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MPN’s Universal Championship of Poker returns this autumn
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The Microgaming Poker Network (MPN) flagship tournament series, the Universal Championship of Poker (UCOP), returns for its fifth instalment this autumn, with €1 million guaranteed across 94 events.
Running from 15 to 29 September 2019, this year’s UCOP will feature a variety of formats, with buy-ins ranging from €2.20 to €320, hundreds of satellites, and a leaderboard with prizes worth more than €20,000.
Starting on 1 September 2019, seats can be secured to the UCOP series from as little as €0.01 in daily satellites running on all participating MPN poker rooms. The satellite schedule will include a €22 buy-in Mega Feeder on 29 September at 14:30*, guaranteeing 100 seats to the UCOP Main Event. A daily Freeroll Rebuy Feeder to the Main Event is scheduled to take place each day at 18:15, as well as direct feeder satellites to other UCOP events.
The €100,000 guaranteed Main Event on 29 September at 17:00, the €45,000 guaranteed High Roller on 29 September at 18:00, and the €30,000 guaranteed 6 Max Freezeout on 22 September at 18:00 are among the many highlights of this year’s UCOP tournament schedule. What’s more, from 1 to 29 September, players who complete certain achievements (outlined on the MPN UCOP webpage), will receive a €110 buy-in UCOP Main Event ticket.
Looking to defend his crown in this year’s series is UCOP 2018 Main Event champion, Mantas Urbonas, who comments: “UCOP is a two-week festival, and a €1 million guarantee in total prizes is a huge incentive not to miss any event. I really want to take down at least one of them! Of course, repeating last year’s success and winning the Main Event again would be fantastic, but I know the odds are very small! I am very happy that players can choose from small buy-ins to high rollers. I will try to play most of the events, even PLO. I have heard positive feedback from players so this will be my first time taking part in the whole festival.”
In addition to this year’s action-packed tournament schedule, the UCOP leaderboard will be running throughout the series. Whoever leads the pack at the end of the series will be crowned the ‘Greatest Poker Player in the Universe’, taking home the coveted trophy, a €1,550 Online Tournament Ticket package, €1,500 MPN Poker Tour (MPNPT) package, €1,000 in cash, and a Player’s Choice prize. The top eight players will also be eligible to select a Player’s Choice prize (a €1,550 Online Tournament Tickets Package, €1,500 MPNPT Package, or €1,000 in cash).
As if that weren’t enough, any player who wins a UCOP event will qualify to play in the Tournament of Champions on 6 October at 19:00, which will pay out the top eight players, including a Player’s Choice prize for first place.
For anyone looking to tune in and watch the UCOP action live, 29-year-old Betsafe player, Bobby James, will be streaming most UCOP events on his Twitch channel (‘The__BJP’). Bobby is a full-time poker professional who is well known in the UK poker community, and was one of the lucky winners from the recent MPNPT Birthday Boy or Girl competition, which gave away five special MPNPT London packages to celebrate the MPNPT’s fifth anniversary.
For further information on this year’s UCOP series, including the full tournament and satellite schedule, please visit the MPN website. For regular UCOP results and updates throughout the series, check out the MPN blog.
* All times in BST (UTC+1).
“With €1 million guaranteed across 94 events, we will be offering the biggest event series in the MPN’s history this September. We have introduced affordable lower-stakes tournaments, with buy-ins ranging from €2.20 to €320, so that players of all levels can enjoy the series over the two-week period and have the chance to claim UCOP victory. The team is looking forward to seeing all the action unfold over the coming weeks.” -said Alex Scott, Managing Director of Poker at Microgaming.
Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network
This is a Syndicated News piece. Photo credits or photo sources can be found on the source article: MPN’s Universal Championship of Poker returns this autumn

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Swintt increase German market profile with new NOVOLINE deal
Having already established a substantial fan following in Germany thanks to its engaging range of classically-themed slots, sought-after software provider, Swintt, has announced it will be making further in-roads into the country via a new partnership with NOVOLINE.DE.
One of Germany’s most beloved online casino platforms, NOVOLINE.DE is home to a vast collection of over 650 slot games and this impressive library now stands to be significantly boosted by the addition of Swintt’s titles – most notably those included within the popular SwinttPremium range.
A core pillar of Swintt’s multi-faceted content line-up, SwinttPremium titles combine the classic graphics, sounds and fruit-based iconography of land-based slots with quick and easy bonus features. They have proven particularly successful in the regulated German market.
As a result of the new deal, NOVOLINE.DE customers will now be able to enjoy a number of popular entries in the series including Seven Seven Pots and Pearls, Xtra Win X and Aqua Lord – all of which have established themselves among the provider’s best-performing titles in the German market.
Of course, with upwards of 120 titles in the SwinttPremium collection alone, the addition of this exciting selection of 63 games will enable NOVOLINE to offer an even wider selection of casino content to customers, while also helping Swintt cement its position as a top provider in the German market.
David Mann, Chief Executive Officer at Swintt, said: “Having already established ourselves as a leading software provider in the regulated German market, we’re delighted to be teaming up with NOVOLINE.DE to bring our SwinttPremium games to an even wider range of players.
“As a hugely established online slots platform with a strong player base in the country, the partnership will enable Swintt to enhance its standing among German audiences while also bolstering NOVOLINE’s line-up with proven titles like the fan favourite Seven Seven Pots and Pearls.”
Florian Hermann, Managing Director at NOVOLINE.DE, said: “While NOVOLINE.DE already offers an incredible collection of over 650 slot titles to players, we’re always looking for opportunities to extend our line-up by joining forces with the software providers who can offer something new.
“We’re confident that our customers will love the SwinttPremium titles added to our offering .”
The post Swintt increase German market profile with new NOVOLINE deal appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Where B2B Marketing Stumbles
Marketing in B2B is like a midfielder in football: it’s supposed to cover the whole field and only occasionally push forward. Meanwhile, all the glory rightfully goes to the strikers, while our role is to reliably back the team.
Still, remove marketing from any business, and you’ll immediately recall Stewart Britt’s line about winking at a girl in the dark. Working without marketing today means being unarmed and invisible in the sea of offers and background noise that’s only getting harder to cut through.
Today, we’re celebrating Trueplay’s 7th anniversary — and as a small but meaningful gift, our marketing team would like to offer a bit of striptease and self-flagellation by offering fixes for some of the most common mistakes marketing teams make.
Clear your meeting calendar
Let’s start with a universal pain point for remote-era businesses: weeding through online meetings. Endless regular calls — with or without a clear purpose — fill up the day and ruthlessly devour your time.
Our conclusion: meet only when the issue cannot be solved in writing. Video calls are great for fast, efficient status updates, but become a protracted torture when the only reason is “just to have a call.”
We’re not denying the value of human connection — even through Google Meet — but add this to your calendar: meet only with purpose.
Work together — validate your ideas
Important decisions should always be made collectively, with all relevant perspectives taken into account. To execute any process — especially one that impacts the company’s success — you need a complementary team.
Only in fairytales or propaganda do people unanimously accept top-down decisions. In reality, any idea — especially a creative one — will have both supporters and critics. That’s why you need to build processes where important decisions are validated collectively.
If you’re launching a new website, building a key campaign, or preparing for a major expo — take the time to gather all the department heads around the (virtual) table, especially Sales. Run the idea by them and give them a heads-up about what’s coming.
One of the most common mistakes marketing teams make is leveraging their authority to impose changes: “This is how we’re doing things now.” But if the rest of the team doesn’t support your idea — at least tacitly — failure is almost guaranteed.
It reminds us of a brilliant example from Ichak Adizes, who once visited a shoe factory. Taking aside a factory worker, he discovered how employees responded to unpopular management decisions. They didn’t argue or complain — they simply packed mismatched shoe sizes into the same box and sent them to stores.
Just imagine: marketers, managers, and strategy consultants working around the clock to design company-wide strategies — and a few disengaged people silently undo it all by refusing to cooperate.
Leave time for execution
Marketers love ideas. But even the best concept can fall apart due to a lack of time, budget, or resources.
We’ve held pure gold in our hands — ideas that could’ve flown. But when it came to execution, we stalled. You never know where the problem will arise: a legal nuance, a burning deadline, or a system that simply isn’t ready.
So always build in time. Don’t rush. Remember that cycles repeat — if it didn’t work now, you can always return later with stronger preparation.
Test the product
Even if no one expects it from you — use your market knowledge to help improve the product. Talk to clients. Validate hypotheses early. Stay in touch with the market. Share your insights with the product team.
The worst service you can provide is silent acceptance. You’re not paid to promote anything blindly — you’re here to make products and services better.
Watch your costs
Prices always go up. Invoices from contractors, expo fees, event costs — they’ll all increase each year. That means you must constantly monitor the budget and plan for risks.
To stay ready for tough negotiations — research the market, look for alternatives, check out new vendors. A shark dies if it stops swimming.
Keep your eyes open
Marketing is a 24/7 job. You’re always learning — no matter the field. Every brilliant campaign, viral case, or breakthrough idea is your teacher.
Read the news. Follow innovation and creativity channels. Feed your brain with inspiration. Your superpower is insight, intuition, and ideas. And they can come from anywhere.
Remember your role
Marketing is the company’s radar. Its navigation system. Its sails. You’re always where it’s loud and messy. Your job is to make the company seen, to build the brand. It’s a serious responsibility.
And yes, product creators often get the credit — and that’s fair. But remember: you shape the packaging. And packaging makes things desirable.
That’s your work.
That’s your win.
The post Where B2B Marketing Stumbles appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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BET9JA BACK BOXING WITH BALMORAL GROUP PROMOTIONS SPONSORSHIP
Bet9ja, Nigeria’s premier sportsbook and gaming platform, today announced a landmark multi-year, multi-fight sponsorship partnership with Balmoral Group Promotions, aimed at elevating Nigerian boxing to new heights both domestically and on the global stage. This strategic alliance underscores Bet9ja’s commitment to fostering Nigerian talent, building the sport’s profile, and creating unforgettable moments of national pride through high-profile events that showcase emerging stars and deliver thrilling action to fans worldwide.
The partnership will kick off with a historic night of boxing titled “Chaos In The Ring” on Nigerian Independence Day, October 1, 2025, at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos. Headlined by a highly anticipated cruiserweight clash between American contender Brandon Glanton (20-3, 17 KOs) and former WBA super middleweight champion Rocky Fielding (30-3, 18 KOs) from Liverpool, the event has already captured global attention for its narrative and star power. Glanton, seeking redemption after his loss to British former World Champion Chris Billam-Smith, will face Fielding in what promises to be an explosive main event. The card also features notable bouts including former IBF lightweight champion Richard Commey versus Shiloh Defreitas, and appearances by rising talents like Dan Azeez, further highlighting Nigeria’s growing presence in international boxing.
This inaugural event is presented in collaboration with legendary former world champion Amir Khan and his AK Promotions, alongside support from the National Sports Commission of Nigeria. Broadcast live on DAZN, “Chaos In The Ring” will not only celebrate Nigeria’s independence but also serve as a platform to inspire the next generation of boxers, with a focus on community engagement, talent development, and global storytelling through exclusive content series.
Building on its recent foray into boxing, Bet9ja draws inspiration from its successful sponsorship of British-Nigerian heavyweight sensation Moses Itauma, announced in August 2025. As part of that deal, Itauma, an unbeaten prospect with 12 professional wins (10 by knockout) and holder of the WBO Intercontinental and WBA International titles, served as a Bet9ja brand ambassador during his high-profile knockout victory over Dillian Whyte in Saudi Arabia. The partnership featured Bet9ja’s branding on Itauma’s training gear, ringside apparel, and exclusive digital content under the “#CatchTheBoom” campaign, amplifying Nigeria’s pride and global visibility. This experience has fueled Bet9ja’s ambition to further invest in boxing, with the Balmoral partnership set to replicate and expand this model to nurture more Nigerian stars and iconic moments.
Jennifer Olatunji, Senior Marketing Manager of Bet9ja said: “Bet9ja is proud to back Nigerian boxing through this transformative partnership with Balmoral Group Promotions. Our shared vision is to shine a spotlight on the incredible grit and talent within our nation, building future stars and delivering some of Nigeria’s most proud and publicized sporting nights. Starting with this Independence Day spectacle, we are committed to growing the sport’s ecosystem, creating opportunities for athletes, and engaging fans in ways that resonate both at home and abroad.”
Dr. Ezekiel Adamu, CEO of Balmoral Group Promotions, added: “This multi-year sponsorship from Bet9ja is a game-changer for Nigerian boxing. Together with AK Promotions and Amir Khan, we’re not just hosting fights – we’re building hope, uniting communities, and positioning Nigeria as a powerhouse in the global boxing arena. October 1st will be a night to remember, marking the dawn of a new era for our sport.”
Amir Khan, CEO of AK Promotions and former unified light-welterweight world champion, said: “I’m thrilled to partner with Balmoral Group Promotions and now Bet9ja to bring world-class boxing to Nigeria. This event on Independence Day will showcase incredible talent and draw eyes from around the world, helping to develop the stars of tomorrow and create lasting legacies for the country.”
As part of the sponsorship, Bet9ja will provide branding visibility across events, exclusive digital content, fan engagement initiatives, and support for grassroots boxing programs to nurture young talent. This collaboration builds on Bet9ja’s growing involvement in combat sports, following its recent ambassadorship with rising heavyweight star Moses Itauma.
The post BET9JA BACK BOXING WITH BALMORAL GROUP PROMOTIONS SPONSORSHIP appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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