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Esports World Cup Foundation Announces 40 Clubs Selected for its $20M Club Partner Programme
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) announced the top 40 esports Clubs that have been accepted into the EWCF Club Partner Programme, an industry-leading initiative designed to promote the sustainable growth of esports organidations. The $20 million programme offers participating Clubs up to $1 million in funding to expand their brand and grow their global audience through innovative content and marketing campaigns leading up to and throughout the Esports World Cup 2025.
Since 2023, the EWCF has supported esports Clubs with a carefully aligned funding model that contributes to the Club Partner Programme members’ financial stability and brand growth. To achieve this, the 2025 Programme will focus on fueling global fan growth across all borders and games through impactful storytelling and creative campaigns.
Leveraging EWCF support, the 40 Partner Clubs, reaching over 300 million fans, will drive global growth by creating compelling experiences and content that deepen their connection with fans worldwide, including behind-the-scenes production, player documentaries and live fan experiences that excite their communities. The 2025 programme offers modular funding for campaigns that engage fans, tell EWC-related stories and enable Club-driven innovation.
“The EWCF Club Partner Program is a cornerstone of our mission to build a sustainable future for esports Clubs worldwide while creating opportunities for organizations from some of the world’s fastest-growing markets. This year’s 40 partnered Clubs represent a diverse and dynamic cross-section of global esports, spanning legacy organizations, rising stars and global powerhouses that collectively define the rich history and the rapidly evolving future of the industry. By investing in their growth, the program will enable Clubs to expand their audience and reach, strengthen their brands, and gain greater visibility through fan-first content, shaping the future of esports as a global sport and mainstream entertainment,” said Faisal Bin Homran, Chief Product Officer at the Esports World Cup Foundation.
With this year’s focus on high-growth regions, the 2025 EWCF Club Partner Programme represents a truly global roster, including six Clubs from China, alongside additions from rapidly expanding markets like Japan, India and LATAM. The full lineup of Clubs, in alphabetic order: 100 Thieves, All Gamers, Bilibili Gaming, Cloud9, Edward Gaming, EVOS, FaZe Clan, Fnatic, FURIA, G2 Esports, Gaimin Gladiators, Gen.G, Gentle Mates, HEROIC, JD Gaming, Karmine Corp., Movistar KOI, LEVIATAN, LOUD, MOUZ, NAVI, NIP.eStar, ONIC, POWR, REJECT, S8UL, Sentinels, T1, Team BDS, Team Falcons, Team Liquid, Team RRQ, Team Secret, Team Spirit, Team Vitality, Twisted Minds, Virtus.pro, Weibo Gaming, Wolves Esports, ZETA DIVISION.
The 2025 Club Programme applications in China were supported by Tencent E-Sports, who have facilitated the process for 20 Clubs that have applied. Six Clubs were selected, including All Gamers, Bilibili Gaming, Edward Gaming, JD Gaming, Weibo Gaming and Wolves Esports—China’s most dominant teams, engaging over 125 million Chinese fans through gaming, entertainment and lifestyle content. Additionally, eStar, as part of NIP, has also been added to the lineup, further serving the expansion of the Club Partner Programme in China and activating Chinese fans.
All Clubs were selected through a rigorous evaluation process that reviewed nearly 200 applications. This included assessing their competitive track record in the Club Championship in 2024, their potential across multiple games, social media presence, fan engagement and their strategic plans for activating their global esports audience. Eight Clubs received direct invitations based on their EWC 2024 Club Championship ranking, while the remaining spots were allocated through an open application process. Nineteen Clubs joined for the first time, and 21 returned from the inaugural year.
“Esports is evolving faster than ever, and the EWCF Club Partner Program is driving that evolution by giving Clubs the tools to grow, engage fans, and compete at the highest level. EWC 2024 was a defining moment for us—winning points in five games, two podium finishes, and securing a top-four finish at the Club Championship. The scale and energy of the event proved just how influential esports has become. We’re proud to be part of the program again, fueled by the enthusiasm of French fans who continue to support and inspire us as we look to elevate our game, win as many tournaments as possible, and carry Team Vitality’s colours high on the biggest stage in esports,” said Fabien “Neo” Devide, Chairman and co-founder of Team Vitality.
“As one of the fastest growing esports organizations in North America, we are delighted to join the EWCF Club Partner Program. Continuing the momentum of our success in 2024, including a major win in VALORANT and significant growth across our social channels reaching millions of fans in North America and beyond, the addition of VALORANT to the Esports World Cup is the perfect time for us to become an official partner and deliver new and exciting content to an even wider audience,” said Rob Moore, CEO of Sentinels.
“Since Day One, All Gamers has chased esports glory—pushing non-stop for over 20 years. With years of hard work from our teams, we’ve scored big wins in top games and trained legends in the scene. Competing at the 2024 EWC against the world’s best, that fire burns bright. Now joining EWCF’s Club Partner Program, here’s our hope: When fans worldwide see Chinese esports through AG, they won’t just recall epic comebacks, but our crew’s unstoppable spirit—cutting through challenges like a blade. That combination of grit and grace—that’s China’s gift to the global esports race,” said Le Kedeng, Chairman of All Gamers.
Membership in the EWCF Club Partner Programme is subject to annual renewal in line with the Programme’s requirements, reflecting the dynamic nature of the esports industry. A Club’s participation in the programme does not guarantee a spot at the Esports World Cup 2025. All Clubs are required to qualify through official qualification pathways to earn their spot in each game’s EWC tournament.
The post Esports World Cup Foundation Announces 40 Clubs Selected for its $20M Club Partner Programme appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Former Sky Bet strategist Andrew Mook joins Midnite as Head of Brand Marketing
Fast-growing UK sportsbook and casino Midnite has continued to strengthen its leadership team with the appointment of Andrew Mook as Head of Brand Marketing.
Mook joins Midnite having most recently been Head of Marketing Strategy & Planning at Flutter. Prior to that, he was Head of Creative Strategy at Sky Bet.
It is the latest high-profile hire for Midnite, after the appointment in April of Mook’s former Sky Bet colleague Zach Amin as Vice-President of Sportsbook.
Mook has been tasked with raising awareness of Midnite’s next-gen product among UK bettors and establishing a brand strategy and identity as the company aims to build on recent marketing activities including sponsorship of the 2025 World Snooker Championship and launching its first TV advertising campaign.
He said: “Midnite is the most exciting name in UK betting right now. There’s a genuine ambition here to shake things up and do things differently. The opportunity to help shape the brand at this stage of its growth is incredibly rare, and I’m thrilled to be on board.”
Midnite’s sportsbook was launched in 2018 by Nick Wright and Daniel Qu, who previously created daily fantasy sports platform Dribble in partnership with Sky Bet.
The brand is focused on disrupting the UK betting market, prioritising the player experience with a slick website and app and a brand platform designed to speak to a new generation of players.
Wright said: “Andrew brings a wealth of experience from some of the biggest names in the industry, but what really stood out was his passion for building bold, creative brands. As we continue to grow, having someone like Andrew to lead our brand marketing efforts is a huge asset.”
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BETER Names Adam Conway as General Manager of Esports Business Division
Seasoned esports professional joins fast-betting content provider, bringing over 20 years of trading and product experience to elevate its offering
BETER, an award-winning provider of fast-betting content, data, and live streaming for esports and sports, has appointed former SIS senior executive Adam Conway as its new General Manager of Esports Business Division, significantly strengthening the company’s position in the market.
Conway is a highly accomplished manager in the betting industry, with more than 20 years of experience in overseeing and launching successful product portfolios.
Adam joins BETER following a ten-year tenure at SIS, where he held various positions—from Head of Trading to Global Head of Esports and Competitive Gaming. Before SIS, he held roles at several companies, including Head of Trading at betting powerhouse Ladbrokes.
As Esports General Manager at BETER, Adam will be responsible for strengthening the provider’s leadership in the fast-betting domain, as well as developing and expanding the number of in-house events for the company’s flagship ESportsBattle tournaments, which currently feature disciplines such as eFootball, eBasketball, and eHockey.
Conway will spearhead the development of new disciplines—eCricket and eTennis are set to launch soon—and focus on enhancing relationships with existing clients while establishing new partnerships.
Adam will lead a team of over 200 specialists and 500 professional athletes, delivering more than 500,000 esports events annually across four countries. He will also work closely with key industry bodies, including the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) and the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA).
Gal Ehrlich, CEO at BETER, said: “Adam’s background in esports is unmatched, and we are thrilled to have him on board as we continue to enhance our esports offering, especially our flagship ESportsBattle tournaments.
“We’re already the go-to provider for fast-betting content, data, and live streaming in esports and sports. With Adam as our Esports General Manager, we’re confident we’ll strengthen that leadership and further distance ourselves from the competition.
“We’re excited to welcome Adam and look forward to the significant value his expertise will bring to our partners worldwide.”
Adam Conway, Esports General Manager at BETER, added: “It’s an honour to join BETER and contribute my extensive experience in trading and product development to such a pioneering company.
“BETER is the undisputed market leader, and I’m excited to help ensure it remains at the forefront—delivering exceptional products to operator partners and bettors alike.”
The post BETER Names Adam Conway as General Manager of Esports Business Division appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Hit the red line and massive payouts in Vegas Velocity from Rival
Speed down The Strip towards the game’s 10,000x max payout, boosted by Expanding Turbo Wilds and an Overdrive Respin feature
Experience the neon lights and pulsing rhythm of the City of Sin in Vegas Velocity from Rival. This is a slot where players shift into gear and hit the gas as they race towards big wins.
Vegas Velocity sees players strap in for a thrill ride like no other, lighting up the reels with Expanding Turbo Wild symbols and an Overdrive Re-spin feature.
This is one of the studio’s most visually striking games to date, capturing the electrifying glow of the Las Vegas strip, which flashes past as players speed towards the game’s 10,000x max win potential.
The action hits the red line when Expanding Turbo Wild Symbols drop onto the reels. They can land on reels two, three or four and light up the reel (literally), substituting for all symbols to boost wins.
There’s also the Overdrive Re-spin Feature for added adrenaline-fuelled action. When a Wild Car symbol is part of a win, it expands to fill the whole reel.
It then Locks into place for a free Overdrive Respin. Any additional Wild Cars that form a win during the respin award another Overdrive Respin.
This occurs until there are no more Respins in play, and the feature then U-turns back to the base game.
Vegas Velocity is set across five reels and three rows with ten paylines active in the base game. This is a highly volatile slot with a score of 5/5.
Operators can choose from a range of RTPs including 92.62%, 94.64% and 96.00%, which is the game’s default Return to Player setting.
Ryan Maclean, Head of Games at Rival, said: “Vegas Velocity offers players a fast-paced thrill ride where the adrenaline builds with each spin as they speed towards massive wins.
“The game captures the electrifying excitement of The Strip and where neon lights pulse to the beat of the city.
“By keeping the pedal to the metal, players can trigger high-octane bonuses such as Expanding Turbo Wilds and Overdrive Respin, which help them shift up a gear and hit the game’s biggest payouts.
“This is a strong addition to our growing game portfolio, and we look forward to seeing players buckle up, hit the gas, and light up the reels in what is one of our most explosive slots yet.”
The post Hit the red line and massive payouts in Vegas Velocity from Rival appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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