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Staffordshire University makes history in college esports
Students of Staffordshire University have achieved a unique success: becoming the UK’s first winning university team in Europe’s premier esports competition between colleges. Players of ‘Korean Pop Superstars (KPS)’ emerged victorious last weekend in VALORANT (Riot Games’ shooter title) at the Grand Final of UNIVERSITY Esports Masters (UE Masters), where they defeated their rivals from National University of Physical Education and Sport of Ukraine (NUPESU) by a score of 3-2.
It was not an easy road to glory. British representatives had to overcome the continuous returns from the Ukrainian players, who demonstrated a tough competitive spirit throughout the Grand Final. However, it was a great sporting experience in which fair play prevailed between the two teams. In fact, students of KPS waited over an hour for their NUPESU’s counterparts due to a problem with the venue where they were competing.
All the clashes at the Grand Finals of UE Masters (both VALORANT and League of Legends) were played entirely in online format. Live streams of the showdowns on Twitch and X (formerly Twitter) accumulated more than 40,000 views throughout last weekend on two official social channels with over 11,000 followers.
A great victory for the UK
The win of KPS is a meaningful milestone for college esports in the UK. For the first time, a British team has been crowned as Champion of UE Masters, the most important esports tournament in the college ecosystem across Europe. Since the first edition of the competition in 2016, Great Britain has had representatives, but none had been able to lift the Championship title.
This group of five students from Staffordshire University, integrated by Diarmuid McGirr, Josh Green, Zain Lim, Stanley Lebon, and Ignas Kantauta as the main squad, have completed a successful performance in this edition of UE Masters: overcoming qualifiers, beating the best opponents, and positioning the UK at the top of the university esports in the continent.
One of the KPS integrants, Zain Lim, said: “Playing as a team has definitely been fun, competing with friends just created such an atmosphere where it felt like we would beat teams due to just having better vibes than them. I would recommend university esports to others. I felt it made gaming a more social-able hobby, as over 5 years of university, at two different unis, I have met a bunch of people.”
Find out more about VALORANT, the victory’s game
What is VALORANT? What does it consist of? It is one of the most wanted esports-games globally. This shooter title, developed by the giant Riot Games and released in 2020, is a 5v5 character-based tactical FPS where precise gunplay meets unique agent abilities. It also includes a lot of effects and advanced weapons to offer players a better first-person experience.
Millions of people have tested their tactical skills on VALORANT over the past few years. According to the specialized website Tracker Network, over 16 million active users have played VALORANT so far in July worldwide.
Beyond of a video game competition
UE Masters, supported by Riot Games, is the conclusion of the UNIVERSITY Esports season, a global program with a presence in 26 countries on four continents and involving more than 100,000 students from 2,000 universities.
The main objectives of UNIVERSITY Esports are to create a sense of community among players from all over Europe, to give them the opportunity to compete in high quality international tournaments and to provide avenues for young people to develop a career within the esports world, as well as to find a place to learn and enhance their skills.
In the UK and Ireland, UNIVERSITY Esports, a project organized by NUEL (a GGTech Entertainment’s company), has celebrated its 13th Season. The winners of its Winter Split, such as Staffordshire University, have been the national representatives in the outgoing edition of UE Masters.
The post Staffordshire University makes history in college esports appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Thunderkick partners with pioneering streaming provider Livespins
Slot studio’s titles integrated into Bet with Streamers product
Independent slots studio Thunderkick has partnered with Evolution-owned Livespins, making its portfolio of content available for the Bet with Streamers social gaming experience.
Livespins’ first-of-its-kind Bet with Streamers game involves influencers broadcasting live footage of slots from industry-leading providers, allowing players to bet alongside the streamer and receive the same multipliers they generate, all while following them from game to game.
There is also a strong social element to Bet with Streamers, with a chat function enabling viewers to interact with one another as well as the influencer, enhancing engagement and delivering an immersive experience.
Thunderkick’s diverse range of games will now be accessible to streamers, including The Gunman of Goldwood, Eager Beavers, and the iconic Esqueleto Explosivo trilogy.
Livespins will drive brand awareness on behalf of Thunderkick by delivering its games directly to players worldwide, enhancing global exposure as the supplier continues to expand its footprint in emerging markets.
Svante Sahlström, Chief Commercial Officer at Thunderkick, said: “Bet with Streamers is a truly innovative concept, providing a unique way for us to reach prospective players and strengthen our visibility in target markets.
“Some of Thunderkick’s most popular titles will be made accessible to streamers, ensuring that players associate our brand with distinctive, engaging games that are enjoyed by the most reputable influencers.”
Michael Pedersen, Chief Commercial Officer at Livespins, added: “At Livespins, we consistently update our content offering to include the biggest and best titles from those providers that drive the industry forward.
“The inclusion of Thunderkick’s fan-favourite games will supplement our existing catalogue, ensuring streamers can deliver an optimal viewing experience for players.”
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Balancing Regulations and Opportunities in 2025: Insights from SOFTSWISS
Growing regional fragmentation, the emergence of new legal frameworks, and the rising importance of sustainability and social responsibility are reshaping the regulatory landscape in the iGaming industry for 2025. Recognising the critical role regulation plays in the sector’s future, SOFTSWISS, a global tech expert with over 15 years of experience, has highlighted these trends in its latest report.
The SOFTSWISS team identifies the evolving regulatory environment as one of the key challenges and opportunities for operators and suppliers in the coming year. As global markets, including untapped regions, adopt stricter compliance measures, the ability to adapt and innovate within these frameworks is becoming a decisive factor for success.
The recent iGaming Trends 2025 Report from SOFTSWISS delves deeper into these transformations, exploring the impact of heightened regulation on industry dynamics. Key trends in the regulatory sphere include:
Regional Fragmentation:
During the research, industry experts were asked to rate the current legal environment in iGaming on a scale of 1 to 10. The average score was 6.1. While this indicates the environment is generally functional, it also suggests considerable room for improvement.
At the same time, compliance requirements are becoming increasingly fragmented, with countries implementing diverse rules regarding taxation, advertising, and player protection. To overcome this challenge, companies must demonstrate agility in adapting to localised demands effectively.
Emerging Markets:
As regions like Latin America, Asia, and Africa introduce formal regulatory structures, operators have unique opportunities to establish a foothold in these high-growth markets. However, navigating these emerging regulations will be essential for long-term success.
Max Trafimovich, CCO at SOFTSWISS, comments: “The key to identifying the right markets goes beyond upfront costs or immediate profitability. True capital lies in market knowledge, operational flexibility, and the ability to build meaningful partnerships. These are the assets that lead to sustainable growth and the most promising opportunities.”
Sustainability in Compliance:
Sustainability and social responsibility are becoming integral to regulation. Governments are focusing on ensuring fairness, preventing problem gambling, and increasing transparency in licensing.
This shift drives up operators’ costs and raises the bar for trust. Compliance is no longer just about meeting minimum standards; it is about building businesses that players, regulators, and investors can trust over the long term.
The iGaming Trends 2025 Report comprehensively analyses the industry’s most important directions for the year ahead. From the convergence of AI and cybersecurity to evolving marketing strategies and business development trends, the report is a must-read for anyone shaping the future of iGaming.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience 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 23,500 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.
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Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – November 18-24
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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Two of Alabama’s leaders in the hospitality and tourism industry — Wind Creek Hospitality, owned by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, and the McGregor family, owners of Birmingham Racecourse and Casino and Victoryland Casino — announced that they have entered into an agreement under which Wind Creek will acquire the Birmingham Racecourse. The sale is expected to be finalised by early 2025.
Kaizen Gaming Colombia, owner of the Betano.co brand, was authorised by Coljuegos to operate online betting in the country. With this new operator, there are now 16 web platforms that have the approval of the entity to market games of chance online. The entity is also in the process of authorising an additional operator called Bingo Casino, which is expected to begin offering bets in the coming weeks.
Gaming Laboratories International has become the first laboratory to achieve accreditation in Maranhão, Brazil. The accreditation allows GLI to perform tests and certification for the gambling and lottery industry interested in working with lottery and fixed-odds betting operators in the state of Maranhão. The milestone is the latest in a series of regulatory achievements for GLI in Brazil.
BetConstruct has announced their participation at this year’s GAT Caribbean Cancún that takes place in Mexico from November 26-28. Taking place at the Cancún International Centre, the GAT Caribe Cancú is a prestigious event that gathers manufacturers, operators and marketers to broaden the horizons of the online and land-based markets in Mexico, the Caribbean region and Central America.
Legendz Social Casino & Sportsbook announced its highly anticipated launch, offering players an unparalleled social gaming experience across 43 states in English and Spanish language. With a vast array of games, innovative features and a player-first philosophy, Legendz is set to redefine the online social and sweepstakes gaming landscape.
Partnerships
International Game Technology PLC has announced that it has launched its first wide-area progressive (WAP) compatible game in Colombia with the all-new Condor Link. Players across the country now have the opportunity to spin for large-scale WAP jackpots at nine properties operated by Winner Group Cirsa, one of Colombia’s largest gaming operators. Delivering a highly engaging entertainment experience to the gaming floor, IGT’s Condor Link game features four jackpot levels and a reset value of 75,000,000 Colombian Pesos (COP).
Cisco and MGM Resorts International announced that the companies have signed a Whole Portfolio Agreement (WPA), empowering MGM Resorts with the majority of Cisco’s software portfolio. This includes cybersecurity, software defined networking, software defined-WAN, digital experience assurance, full-stack observability, data centre and services. This agreement spans 5.5 years, benefiting guests and employees across all of MGM Resorts’ properties.
Endorphina has entered into a partnership with Luckia, a leading company in the gaming sector. Combining Endorphina’s passion for slots with Luckia’s innovative spirit, this partnership is set to provide incredible gaming experiences to all iGaming enthusiasts. Luckia is a commercial brand of Luckia Gaming Group that combines offline and online gaming, including traditional businesses such as gaming machines in bars and restaurants and gaming arcades, new online gaming activities and land-based sports betting.
The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – November 18-24 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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