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The Professional Darts Corporation announced that Paddy Power has extended its title sponsorship of the World Darts Championship for a further five years, keeping the iconic partnership in place until at least 2031.

Paddy Power first became title sponsor of the sport’s flagship event in 2023, and their innovative approach has helped elevate the Alexandra Palace spectacular into one of the most anticipated tournaments on the global sporting calendar.

As part of their commitment, Paddy Power has donated more than £2 million to Prostate Cancer UK across the 2023/24 and 2024/25 Paddy Power World Darts Championships.

The partnership has also seen the introduction of a pioneering nine-darter bonus: when a player completes the perfect leg, £180,000 is shared between the player, one lucky fan inside Alexandra Palace, and Prostate Cancer UK. This remarkable moment occurred twice during last year’s tournament.

The funds raised have helped support Prostate Cancer UK’s groundbreaking TRANSFORM trial – the biggest and most ambitious prostate cancer screening study in two decades – aimed at revolutionising early diagnosis through innovative screening techniques.

Beyond financial contributions, Paddy Power has used its extensive marketing channels, retail network and social media reach to encourage men to take Prostate Cancer UK’s online risk checker. More than 300,000 men have used the tool during the past two campaigns, with 222,000 discovering they are at higher risk of prostate cancer.

For this year’s tournament, Paddy Power has renewed its charitable pledge with “The Even Bigger 180” campaign, aiming to encourage 180,000 more men to check their risk.

This year will also see the launch of the “Darts of Destiny” fundraising challenge, where one randomly selected entrant will have the chance to throw for £180,000 live on stage at Ally Pally by scoring 180 points with nine darts.

Alongside their charity efforts, Paddy Power’s distinctive marketing creativity has enhanced the fan experience at Alexandra Palace, with a fully branded, interactive Fan Zone and a stream of viral social content capturing the unique atmosphere of the event.

The extended agreement reinforces Paddy Power’s position as title sponsor through to 2031, with this year’s Paddy Power World Darts Championship beginning on Thursday December 11 and concluding with the final on Saturday January 3, 2026.

PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter said: “Paddy Power has had a hugely positive impact on the World Darts Championship over the past two years.

“Their creativity, investment and passion for the sport have taken the event to new heights, enhancing the experience for fans in the arena and millions watching worldwide.

“We are delighted to extend this partnership to 2031 and look forward to building on this success while continuing to support Prostate Cancer UK’s essential work.”

Paddy Power commented: “The Paddy Power World Darts Championship is the greatest party in sport and we’re proud to extend our sponsorship for another five years. We’ll continue bringing excitement, entertainment and unmistakable Paddy Power mischief to the event, wherever it’s held.

“But above all, we’re proud to support the vital, life-changing work of Prostate Cancer UK. Our Big 180 charity campaigns have become huge, award-winning initiatives and we’re committed to helping create a world where no man dies of prostate cancer.”

The post Paddy Power Extend World Darts Championship Title Sponsorship to 2031 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Studio’s latest slot takes the pirate theme and promises plenty of explosive action with Wilds, Free Spins, Jackpots and its trademarked WinBreaker mechanic 

Players are being commanded to raise the sails and brace themselves for a high seas adventure like no other in Captain WinBreaker, the latest swashbuckling slot from Northern Lights Gaming.

This pirate-themed slot sees players take the helm of a ship bound for treasures and untold riches. But make no mistake about it, they will first have to navigate rough seas.

Every spin carries the promise of treasure, triumph and thunderous wins, with players helped on their quest by a series of bonus features.

This includes Compass Wilds which turn reels into Full Stacks of Wilds for big win potential that will have players shouting “Yarrr”.

But the real loot is found in the WinBreaker Free Spins, which are triggered by landing 3, 4 or 5 Scatters to trigger an unlimited number of Free Spins.

In WinBreaker Free Spins, players collect WinBreaker values to determine the ultimate prize target while the reels keep on spinning until it is hit. In addition, treasure chests reveal Jackpots, reels upgrade and life saving bonuses wash up on the reels.

This means players are only ever a heartbeat away from a plunder worth up to 5,000x their bet.

Scott Newby, Head of Games at Northern Lights Gaming, said: “Captain WinBreaker is a swashbuckling slot built around our trademarked WinBreaker mechanic.

“WinBreaker is all about collecting symbols to set the prize, with spins continuing until players hit it. It’s thrilling and exciting, while delivering a treasure trove of big action.

“Pirate slots are always popular, but the team has put our own twist on this classic theme and created a thrilling high-seas adventure with a great combo of bonuses including Wilds, Free Spins, Jackpots and of course, WinBreaker.

“So raise the sails and brace yourselves for a pirate adventure like no other in Captain WinBreaker.”

The post Embark on a high seas adventure in Captain WinBreaker from Northern Lights Gaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Merkur Slots Spain has completed the acquisition of a total of eleven arcades operated by arcade operator Operjoku S.L.U. in the Basque Country. In addition, the subsidiary of Merkur Group, headquartered in Palma de Mallorca, will take over the operation of gaming machines in 108 bars previously serviced by Operkale S.L.U., a specialist in the placement of gaming machines in gastronomy in the autonomous region of northern Spain. Implemented in cooperation with the Spanish distributor Merkur Dosniha, the acquisition marks a significant milestone in the expansion of the company’s brand presence, representing its first entry into Spain’s highly profitable hospitality installation segment.

With this step, the East Westphalian corporate group continues its international growth trajectory. Meik Sellenriek, Management Board Member, Merkur Operations at Merkur.com AG, welcomed the development: “Spain is a market of great importance and long-term potential for the Merkur Group. This acquisition clearly underlines that. We are proud to welcome around 50 new employees to the company and look forward with confidence to strengthening our market position.”

Dominik Raasch, Management Board Member, Merkur Games at Merkur.com AG, said: “There are strong synergies between the Merkur Group’s business divisions. The successful acquisition of Operjoku and Operkale demonstrates how effectively we leverage these synergies to support our sustainable growth. We are particularly pleased to now offer our innovative gaming machines and games in our own arcades and bars in the Basque Country – one of Spain’s most economically powerful regions.”

The post Merkur Group Strengthens its Market Presence in Spain appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.