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DreamHack and ESL One: Two Giant Gaming Events. One City. Nothing Like It.

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DreamHack Birmingham debuts; ESL One Birmingham returns

DreamHack and ESL One, two of the world’s biggest events in gaming and esports, will be coming to Birmingham, UK, in March 2026. DreamHack Birmingham will be the first ever festival held on UK soil in its 20+ year history, bringing together all gaming communities to celebrate games, esports and internet pop culture. Featuring one of the most prestigious esports tournaments, ESL One, returns to the UK for its fourth iteration, with a $1M prize pool, showcasing 16 of the world’s best Dota 2 teams.

“Esports has exploded into one of the fastest-growing parts of our economy. Our arenas are buzzing with global fans and players for events like DreamHack and ESL One,” said Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands. “For us it’s much more than entertainment. Our colleges and universities are full of young talent learning the skills to succeed in this multi-billion-pound industry. And with world-class studios already here, and backing from gaming’s biggest names, we’re making the West Midlands the UK’s number one place to create, watch and play esports.”

“The UK has one of the world’s most passionate gaming communities, yet it’s still underserved when it comes to festivals that unite every part of gaming culture.” said Shahin Zarrabi, VP Festivals at ESL FACEIT Group. “That’s why we’re bringing DreamHack to Birmingham — a city with a proven track record and the perfect stage for our UK debut. We’re here for the long term: to invest, grow, and build something even bigger together with the community.”

“Returning to Birmingham with ESL One is a huge moment for us and the Dota 2 community,” said Álvaro Sánchez Velasco, Product Manager Dota 2 at ESL FACEIT Group. “This year is even more special as we join forces with DreamHack to create a truly unique festival atmosphere. We can’t wait to bring the best of Dota 2 esports to a city that has shown us so much passion over the years we’ve been here.”

The UK has rapidly established itself as one of Europe’s fastest-growing esports markets, with revenues set to hit $250.7 million in 2025 (Statista, 2025) and user numbers projected to reach nearly 24 million by 2029 (Statisa, 2025). Home to nearly 40 million gamers nationwide (Statista, 2024), esports is now both a cultural and economic force in the UK — and DreamHack festivals, which reach over 200,000 visitors globally and tens of millions online, are perfectly positioned to bring this vibrant community together on one stage.

NEC Group hosts DreamHack and ESL One Birmingham 2026

The NEC Birmingham and bp pulse LIVE offer two of the UK’s largest and most versatile event venues, operated by the NEC Group. Conveniently located just minutes from Birmingham Airport, the venues welcome seven million visitors each year to hundreds of live events and trade shows.

“We’re thrilled to welcome ESL One Birmingham back to the NEC and we’re equally excited to host DreamHack for the very first time,” said Ian Taylor, Managing Director of the NEC. “We’re perfectly located for bringing gaming communities together from across the globe, and we can’t wait to host one of the biggest gaming events in the calendar!”

Securing Birmingham as the host city for both DreamHack and ESL One is a huge milestone,” said Bobby Hare, Director Host City Partnerships at ESL FACEIT Group. “Over the past 12 months, the West Midlands Growth Company and the NEC Group have been incredibly supportive partners, and we’re excited to be back in Birmingham. The city’s vibrant gaming community and our shared vision for long-term growth make it the perfect home to deliver unforgettable experiences for UK fans.

DreamHack Birmingham

  • Dates: March 27 – 29, 2026
  • Location: National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham, UK
  • DreamHack is the world’s leading gaming lifestyle festival bringing together all gaming communities to celebrate games and internet pop culture.
  • Across three days, DreamHack Birmingham will invite fans to explore esports tournaments, cosplay, live music, creators, tabletop games, and so much more, all in one vibrant, community-driven space.
  • The iconic festival comes to the UK following celebrated stints across the globe, including in Europe, North America and Asia.

ESL One Birmingham

  • Dates: March 22 – 29, 2026.
  • Location: bp pulse LIVE in Birmingham, UK.
  • ESL One is one of the biggest and renowned Dota 2 tournament series that brings together the best teams and players from around the world.
  • 16 teams will compete in a round robin format, with 8-team double-elimination Playoffs.
  • The final three days of the competition will take place in front of a live audience.
  • Last year’s ESL One Birmingham saw a peak viewership of over 327,000. Over 18,000 fans from across the world attended the bp pulse LIVE on the final three days of the tournament, witnessing Team Falcons taking home the trophy.

For additional information, please check out the DreamHack and ESL One Birmingham Press Kit.

Tickets can be purchased starting September 23 at 15:00 BST on dreamhack.com/birmingham and esl-one.com/birmingham.

DreamHack 3-day tickets start at £39.00 during the first two weeks and will be priced from £59.00 thereafter. ESL One guaranteed seating starts at £89.00 for all three days, with add-ons also available.

All DreamHack ticket holders receive full access to all parts of the DreamHack festival experience, including ESL One, though entry to bp pulse LIVE is limited by capacity. Purchasing an ESL One ticket guarantees your seat in the bp pulse LIVE and also grants you full access to DreamHack.

 

The post DreamHack and ESL One: Two Giant Gaming Events. One City. Nothing Like It. appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

George Miller (Gyorgy Molnar) started his career in content marketing and has started working as an Editor/Content Manager for our company in 2016. George has acquired many experiences when it comes to interviews and newsworthy content becoming Head of Content in 2017. He is responsible for the news being shared on multiple websites that are part of the European Gaming Media Network.

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Sportradar Announces Close of Acquisition of IMG ARENA and Its Strategic Portfolio of Global Sports Betting Rights

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Acquisition to Accelerate Revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, and Free Cash Flow Growth and will be Accretive to Adjusted EBITDA Margins and Free Cash Flow Conversion  

Sportradar Group AG today announced it has completed its acquisition of IMG ARENA and its global sports betting rights portfolio from Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc. and OB Global Holdings, LLC. The closing marks a milestone in Sportradar’s growth strategy, further strengthening and differentiating its position as a leading technology and content provider in the most bet upon global sports, including soccer, tennis and basketball.

The acquired portfolio encompasses strategic relationships with more than 70 rightsholders, delivering approximately 38,000 official data events and 29,000 streaming events across 14 global sports on six continents.  With this, Sportradar sports coverage totals more than 1 million matches annually.

The acquisition enhances the Company’s content distribution and will further fuel product development. Sportradar expects to seamlessly integrate and monetize these rights across its highly scalable technology platform and client network.

Given the unique transaction structure, the acquisition is expected to be accretive to Sportradar’s adjusted EBITDA margins and free cash flow conversion while accelerating the Company’s robust revenue, adjusted EBITDA, and free cash flow growth.  Sportradar is not required to provide any financial consideration as part of the acquisition. Instead, the deal includes total financial consideration to Sportradar of $225 million comprised of approximately $122 million in cash prepayments by the seller to certain sports rightsholders and approximately $103 million to Sportradar.  The payments to Sportradar, which are subject to customary purchase price adjustments, will be made over a two-year period.

Carsten Koerl, Chief Executive Officer of Sportradar, stated: “We are pleased to complete the acquisition of IMG ARENA. This marks a significant milestone for Sportradar expanding our access to premium sports content that strengthens and complements our already robust global portfolio and capabilities. With this, we are uniquely positioned to deliver even more immersive, data rich experiences to our clients, partners and fans around the world while accelerating innovation at scale across the global sports ecosystem.”

The post Sportradar Announces Close of Acquisition of IMG ARENA and Its Strategic Portfolio of Global Sports Betting Rights appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Slotegrator & Gamblers Connect enter a new partnership

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Gamblers Connect, a leading iGaming media & affiliate website connecting operators, providers, and players across the global industry, is proud to announce its latest strategic partnership with one of the most respected names in iGaming technology, Slotegrator.

Founded in 2012, Slotegrator has become a cornerstone of the iGaming B2B landscape, empowering hundreds of successful online casinos and sportsbooks with a complete suite of advanced software solutions. From its Turnkey Casino Platform and APIgrator Game Integration module to its Telegram Casino and Moneygrator payment gateway, Slotegrator has continuously set the standard for innovation, flexibility, and compliance.

This partnership marks a major step in Gamblers Connect’s evolution from a trusted affiliate platform into a full-scale media and B2B hub, one that not only connects audiences with the world’s top operators but also shines a light on the technological engines driving the industry forward.

Through this collaboration, Gamblers Connect will highlight Slotegrator’s market-leading solutions across its media channels, showcasing  how their technology simplifies market entry, accelerates growth, and ensures regulatory compliance in emerging and established jurisdictions alike.

Slotegrator’s expertise in areas such as crypto casino infrastructure, white-label platforms, and licensing advisory perfectly aligns with Gamblers Connect’s mission to connect the entire ecosystem, from software innovators to decision-makers seeking trusted, efficient, and future-ready solutions.

Together, the two companies will continue to emphasise values that have defined their success: responsibility, transparency, and innovation.

Ataur Rosul Abeer, Sales Supervisor at Slotegrator, commented: “We’re excited to collaborate with top-tier partners to showcase our latest innovations and deliver even more engaging experiences to the global iGaming community.”

Gjorgje Ristikj, Founder & CEO of Gamblers Connect, added: “Partnering with Slotegrator represents more than just a collaboration, it’s a strategic alignment of vision. Both our teams share the same goal of improving and Connecting the iGaming industry through quality, integrity, and technology. We’re proud to stand alongside such a respected name as we continue expanding Gamblers Connect’s media and B2B reach worldwide.”

The post Slotegrator & Gamblers Connect enter a new partnership appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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QTech Games maintains its gold standard with KingMidas Games

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Emerging-markets leader broadens its eclectic gaming suite with fresh content from an emerging force in the sector

QTech Games, the leading game aggregator for emerging markets, has continued to build the momentum in its premium pipeline, thanks to its latest deal with prominent igaming supplier KingMidas Games in a move set to power the studio’s aggressive international expansion strategy.

Through this partnership, more than 100 KingMidas Games titles—spanning its signature Classics, Next-Gen, Slots, and other top-performing genres—are now available to new operator partners via QTech’s definitive aggregator platform for emerging markets.

KingMidas Games is becoming known for its “next-generation content” which serves as a cornerstone of its gaming suite. Its diverse portfolio includes Cards, Chips, Classics, Dice, IP Content, Lottery, Roulette, Slots, and Virtual Experiences – and is defined by radical thinking and engaging game mechanics, as exemplified by high-speed go-kart races, animal obstacle courses, or survival-style gameplay.

This deal organically widens KingMidas Games’ international footprint, unlocking untapped jurisdictions for diversified growth from Asia to Africa and Eastern Europe to Latin America, where the supplier has made strong recent strides together with QTech Games.

Philip Doftvik, QTech Games’ CEO, said: “We’re committed to rolling out first-class content that drives revenue for our partners. So, this deal with KingMidas Games extends our impressive sequential pipeline into 2025. Operators are always looking for fresh and engaging titles that truly stand out, and KingMidas Games is thriving against the backdrop of a homogenised marketplace. Like us, KingMidas is dedicated to delivering experiences that combine creativity, tech, and cultural relevance to meet evolving localised player expectations and drive new revenue streams for our growing group of worldwide operators.”

Sean Auret, Global Head of KingMidas Games, added: “We are thrilled to further collaborate with QTech, one of the industry’s leading aggregators renowned for connecting high-quality content with dynamic markets. This partnership amplifies KingMidas Games’ reach across key emerging territories and marks another exciting step in our mission to deliver next-generation gaming experiences to a truly global audience.”

The post QTech Games maintains its gold standard with KingMidas Games appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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