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French Union of Professional Esports Clubs (UFCEP): Esports clubs unite to strengthen their representation in France
Today marks a historic moment for the global esports industry with the creation of the French Union of Professional Esports Clubs (UFCEP). The new association will unite France’s leading esports clubs, including Team Vitality, Karmine Corp, Gentle Mates, and Solary, to collectively represent the esports ecosystem and its passionate fanbase. The UFCEP will play a crucial role in shaping future decisions made by government bodies, tournament organizers, and publishers, ensuring the continued growth and success of esports in France and beyond.
The UFCEP’s initiative is part of a bigger strategy aimed at building a stronger, more credible and sustainable global esports ecosystem. A unique opportunity to strengthen France’s position as a key player in the global esports industry and create a new union to represent and support its various stakeholders, especially with many key deadlines fast approaching in 2025, including the VALORANT Champions and the Rocket League Worlds esports tournaments
A new union to represent France and the esports ecosystem
The UFCEP builds upon years of collaboration among France’s top esports clubs, having collectively worked together to evolve and grow the global esports industry. With a mission to increase the visibility and credibility of esports worldwide, the union is dedicated to representing the interests of both the clubs and their passionate fanbase. Its goal is to elevate the global esports landscape by fostering positive change on both the international and local levels.
By representing all French esports clubs and their millions of fans, the UFCEP is creating one strong voice that the teams and clubs can identify with. The UFCEP will also represent the needs of the esports ecosystem, including fans, clubs and players, any decisions made by tournament organizers and game publishers and manage any issues with government bodies.
Aligned with the global esports landscape, the UFCEP is committed to promoting an open and inclusive model, allowing any club that meets the eligibility criteria to automatically join the union. This approach guarantees representation for all professional esports clubs, embracing their diversity while uniting them within a structured and cohesive ecosystem.
The elected members of the Steering Committee will be responsible for representing the interests of the UFCEP and serving as key communicators with various stakeholders, including tournament organizers, publishers, government, parliamentarians, and economic and institutional decision-makers. A designated representative will ensure a supportive framework that promotes the long-term sustainability of the esports ecosystem, safeguarding the interests of its brands, fans, and players.
Protecting the sustainability and structure of the esports industry
Comprising internationally recognized esports organisations, the UFCEP represents a diverse range of popular esports titles, including League of Legends, Rocket League, VALORANT and Counter-Strike. These French clubs also boast a roster of exceptionally talented professional gamers, including Mathieu “zywOo” Herbaut, Caliste “Caliste” Henry-Hennebert, Jeremy “Eika” Valdenaire, and Luna “Lilith” Benzerara-Arnoux. Home to many esports superstars, France has an incredible ability to create and nurture talent, a strength that must be protected and built on to develop and propel the global esports industry into the next generation.
The participating esports clubs are already deeply committed to fostering a healthy and sustainable ecosystem. However, to elevate these efforts further, a robust framework must be created, coupled with comprehensive support for players throughout their careers. This involves developing personalised training programs that empower players to continue their education alongside their professional esports careers. Additionally, dedicated training courses, such as esports focused studies and specialised skills development, are crucial to nurturing player growth. This enhanced support system will unlock greater post-career opportunities for young talent, ensuring long-term success both on and off the screen.
Equally vital is addressing the challenges players face in their professional journeys. This begins with the creation of a streamlined legal framework that facilitates visa processing during transfer periods and prioritises the protection of players’ mental well-being. Combating the pervasive threat of cyberbullying, a significant concern for many young esports and sports athletes alike, must remain a top priority.
These measures are crucial, not only for safeguarding players but also for strengthening France’s position as an emerging global esports hub. With a rising number of French players exerting significant economic influence and an increasing influx of major international tournaments being held in the country, ensuring their well-being and development is fundamental to sustaining this momentum.
France, an esports nation, fuelled by its passionate young fanbase
The UFCEP stands firm in its commitment to the core values that define esports and unite its players: performance, inclusion, and passion. These organizations play a pivotal role in shaping French youth culture, captivating over 7 million fans, predominantly between the ages of 18 and 34. Through their active participation in major international competitions, they continue to expand their influence and elevate France’s standing on the global esports stage.
As the global esports audience experiences significant growth, reaching 544 million fans in 2024, France has emerged as a key destination for hosting major international events. Paris has been chosen multiple times by Riot Games, the publisher of League of Legends, to host the highly coveted World Championship Finals. In 2023, the region made history by hosting the inaugural Counter-Strike Major, an event of Grand Slam caliber in the esports world.
Looking ahead, 2025 is poised to be an equally prestigious year for the esports ecosystem. The UFCEP’s member clubs will be at the forefront of a calendar brimming with high-profile tournaments, including the VALORANT Champions (equivalent to World Championships), the Rocket League Worlds, the Evolution Championship Series, the 2025 Fortnite Global Championship and the TFT Open Qualifier.
These events provide a unique opportunity for the UFCEP to collaborate closely with governing bodies, tournament organizers, and publishers to create unforgettable experiences for fans, athletes, clubs and players alike. With an unwavering focus on advancing France’s position as a global esports powerhouse, the UFCEP is poised to continue driving positive change and shaping the future of esports on the world stage.
The post French Union of Professional Esports Clubs (UFCEP): Esports clubs unite to strengthen their representation in France appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Kantar Finds Security Driving iGaming, SOFTSWISS Leading Loyalty
SOFTSWISS, a global tech provider with over 15 years of iGaming expertise, shares first takeaways from a Kantar-led qualitative study conducted at iGB L!VE London, showing that security, reliability and revenue-growth potential are the most influential criteria when selecting iGaming software partners. The findings also place SOFTSWISS first by Net Promoter Score (NPS) – the industry benchmark for client loyalty and advocacy.
Designed as an event-based, face-to-face qualitative survey, the Kantar study explored how operators, game providers, and iGaming tech companies make procurement and partnership decisions. Across the total sample, respondents most frequently ranked safety and security of operations as the number-one driver, followed by a reliable partner with a strong market reputation and the ability to open up new revenue opportunities. Close behind were stable, low-downtime infrastructure and a high level of client service – signalling that risk mitigation and dependable delivery are the baseline for partnership decisions, with growth enablement expected rather than optional.
The study revealed a clear divide in priorities between final decision-makers and decision influencers. Influencers place comparatively more weight on the “everyday assurances” of an iGaming platform, like:
- Security
- Client service
- Optimised service infrastructure
Final decision-makers look further out, prioritising:
- Stable infrastructure with minimal downtime
- Clear business-growth levers
- A reliable partner with a strong market reputation
For vendors, the takeaway is to address both sides: demonstrate service excellence to operational stakeholders and prove resilience, scalability and go-live readiness to executive sponsors.
Olga Resiga, Chief Business Development Officer at SOFTSWISS, said: “Security and reliability are now the non-negotiables of iGaming procurement. What Kantar’s work highlights is the two-lens buying logic: operational teams evaluate partners on day-to-day assurance – robust security, responsive support and efficient infrastructure – while final decision-makers judge long-term resilience, Tier-1 launch readiness and the capacity to unlock new revenues. Our roadmap is built for both: verifiable security and service benchmarks today, coupled with proven high-load performance and compliance for tomorrow’s growth.”
Net Promoter Score, calculated as the share of promoters minus detractors, is a widely used indicator of client loyalty. SOFTSWISS achieved the highest NPS in the evaluated set. In open responses, clients most often described SOFTSWISS as a “reputable company” and “most reliable”, repeatedly citing “reliability” as the key reason for high ratings. Beyond NPS, SOFTSWISS was most frequently associated with a broad range of strengths: safety and security, a reliable partner with strong market standing, stable and low-downtime tech infrastructure, and a high level of client service.
SOFTSWISS continues to share market-ready expertise with industry stakeholders. Recent resources include the Sportsbook Online Calculator and the iGaming in LatAm Report, both available on the SOFTSWISS website.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS provides certified software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 30,000 casino games, the Affilka affiliate platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. The expert team counts over 2,000 employees.
The post Kantar Finds Security Driving iGaming, SOFTSWISS Leading Loyalty appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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ELA Games at SBC Lisbon: New Games, Market Growth, and Awards Night
The ELA Games team is attending the event to demonstrate new developments
ELA Games, a dynamic game development studio, announces its attendance at SBC Lisbon, set to take place at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa & Meo Arena from 16 – 18 September.
Attending the event will be:
- Marharyta Yerina, Managing Director
- Oleksii Shulhin, Head of ELA Games
- Yaroslav Soloshenko, Team Lead Business Development Manager
- Petr Vonarshenko, Business Development Manager
- Sadaf Ali, Senior Account Manager
SBC Lisbon is a key annual gathering in the online gaming and betting industry, welcoming over 30,000 delegates to experience innovations, cutting-edge products, and networking opportunities. The ELA Games team will take the global stage to connect with partners, demonstrate its casino-and-player-centric development approach, and reveal new roadmap developments.
At the event, ELA Games will highlight its diverse portfolio, including recent hits from the Winpot series (Joker Winpot, Zeus Winpot, Rabbit Winpot Deluxe), visually rich classics like Juicy Crystal and Flame Fruits Frenzy, and innovative new releases such as Shoot Happens. The team will also preview upcoming titles and discuss recent expansions into important growing markets like Denmark, Sweden, Greece, and more.
Adding to the studio’s momentum, the SBC Awards have nominated ELA Games in the “Innovation in Casino Entertainment (Supplier)” category. The award ceremony will take place on September 18 for a night celebrating excellence and forward-thinking solutions. This shortlisting highlights ELA Games’ ongoing efforts to push the boundaries of online gaming and create new experiences for both operators and players.
Marharyta Yerina, ELA Games’ Managing Director, commented, “We’re always excited to attend SBC events as they’re one of the biggest gatherings of the year where we’re able to see many of our partners and make new meaningful connections. This year, ELA Games has plenty to show the world, as we’ve made numerous additions to our portfolio, developed new mechanics, and pushed ourselves creatively. The team is looking forward to sharing all we’ve been up to, and equally excited to attend the award ceremony!”
ELA Games invites all attendees to visit Stand B350 to chat with the team, explore creative solutions to bolster your content library, and find new ways to engage your player base.
📅 Dates: 16–18 September
📍 Location: Stand B350, Feira Internacional de Lisboa & Meo Arena
The post ELA Games at SBC Lisbon: New Games, Market Growth, and Awards Night appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Boomerang Partners officially launches Golden Boomerang League 2025
From September 1 to October 31, participants will compete for a pass to the Golden Boomerang Awards and other prizes.
Boomerang Partners, a rapidly growing global affiliate iGaming & Betting Marketing Agency, officially launches the first season of its new tournament, the Golden Boomerang League. All active affiliate partners of Boomerang are enrolled automatically. If you are a newcomer, register on the competition’s landing page.
Each participant has two months (from September 1 to October 31, 2025) to generate 20 sports FTDs on brands from Boomerang’s portfolio and make it to the finalists’ list. The winners will be announced on stage in a solemn atmosphere on the second day of SiGMA Rome, on November 5, 2025, and will receive well-deserved recognition.
What’s at stake
All participants of the Golden Boomerang League who generate 20 sports FTDs will automatically enter the prize draw. A grand prize is a unique, automatic qualification in the third season of the annual global traffic tournament for affiliate teams, the Golden Boomerang Awards 2026, bypassing the competition for the top 30 or inclusion in nominations. GBA is a landmark event for the industry, which not everyone can participate in. It allows Boomerang’s affiliate partners to demonstrate their expertise on a global level, compete for various awards, and attend a large-scale award ceremony at a top location. Additionally, the top performing participants can get “money can’t buy experiences”: participation in exclusive networking events with industry leaders, visits to the iconic San Siro Stadium in Milan, and meetings with AC Milan Legends, such as football icon Andrea Pirlo.
Also, as an Official Regional Partner of AC Milan, Boomerang Partners offers 2x AC Milan Experience. The winners will receive a complete package, including flight, accommodation, and attendance at an AC Milan match at the iconic San Siro Stadium in Milan.
By the way, participants who have qualified for the prize draw will receive a surprise. Keep an eye on the details on the website.
The race has started
There’s not much time – join the Golden Boomerang League, where legends are made, now. Demonstrate your expertise and win automatic access to the elite Golden Boomerang Awards 2026 tournament.
About Boomerang
Boomerang Partners is a rapidly growing global brand offering a wide range of services. Boomerang is the Official Regional Partner of AC Milan. In 2024, it launched the inaugural Golden Boomerang Awards — a global tournament for affiliate teams. More than 400 affiliate teams participated in the second season of the tournament in 2025. Boomerang launched six new products in 2024, contributing to a nearly 1.5-fold increase in product users.
Boomerang’s portfolio contains 18+ brands offering affiliate and entertainment services across 40+ markets in compliance with local regulations. These products provide personalized bonuses and 24/7 multilingual support.
The post Boomerang Partners officially launches Golden Boomerang League 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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