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Jarno Opmeer and Mercedes lead F1 Esports Series Pro Championship presented by Aramco after dramatic Event 1

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The 2021 F1 Esports Series Pro Championship presented by Aramco got underway with an thrilling Event 1 this week, where Jarno Opmeer and Mercedes took an early lead in the Drivers’ and Teams’ Championships respectively, but with eight different podium finishers in the first three races, the huge $750,000 prize pot is all to play for.

The return of the Pro Championship was more anticipated than ever before following record-breaking viewership last year, the highest ever participation numbers of fans attempting to qualify, as well as several huge moves around the grid with a number of F1 Esports’ biggest names switching allegiances in the off-season.

Much like the 2020 season, drivers are continuing to race remotely from their homes or team facilities, but the hugely popular competition continues to broadcast from the Gfinity Esports Arena in London, with live shows fronted by familiar faces: Natalie Pinkham, Tom Deacon and Nic Hamilton. Following the same Event format as recent campaigns, teams battle it out on the official F1 2021 video game, developed by Codemasters, in two races on a Wednesday, and one on a Thursday, across four broadcasts, which also features qualifiying.

In the first of Wednesday’s two races, the virtual world mirrored reality as the season opener took place at the Sakhir International Circuit, Bahrain, and it was Britain’s Lucas Blakeley who took his maiden win in a historic moment, becoming the first winner for the Aston Martin Cognizant Esports team. Blakeley started in P2 behind Nicolas Longuet but passed him going into the first corner and didn’t relinquish top spot until the final few laps when the lead changed hands several times between the pair, thanks to brave racing and the use of DRS, before the Aston Martin man timed his last attack to perfection. Alvaro Carretón was with the front two the whole way, ready to pounce on any mistakes, but in the end had to settle for a well-deserved P3 for Williams.

Wednesday’s action continued with a trip to China, and whilst the real-world drivers haven’t raced at the Shanghai International Circuit since the pandemic struck, the popularity of F1, and Esports, continues to flourish, as seen by the success of the F1 Esports Series China Championship. Reigning champion Jarno Opmeer showed his title-winning pedigree with an unbelievable victory, taking a huge risk as the only driver to start the race on intermediates tyres, despite there being torrential rain, after a poor qualifying performance that left him in P14. He fell as far as P18, before the rest of the grid began to pit and switch to the same tyres, allowing him to make his way up the grid. He was soon leading, and despite a brief change of leadership between himself and Fabrizio Donoso, as the Alpine driver became the first switch to softs, Opmeer was able to secure his first win for Mercedes in stunning fashion. Red Bull’s Marcel Kiefer put in an accomplished performance in tricky conditions to get his first podium of the season.

The first Event of the new season was rounded off with a second win for Opmeer at the Red Bull Ring with an emphatic victory as he sent out a message to the rest of the field that he is intent on defending his crown. Frederik Rasmussen, one of last year’s front runners picked up his first podium of the year, ahead of McLaren’s new boy Bardia Boroumand who secured third, and is already living up to the hype around him in the pre-season. 

Event 2 will see the drivers battle it out on a trio of iconic ‘old-school’ circuits as the Pro Championship heads to Silverstone, Monza and Spa, in what is set to be an action-packed two days across 27-28 October.

Following Event 1, the official standings are as follows:

Driver standings

 

 

 

Team standings

 

The live shows are streamed online via official channels of Formula 1 on Facebook, YouTube, Twitch and Huya, as well as broadcast on television via select international broadcast partners.

In the last 18 months, F1 Esports events have achieved over 40 million views across TV and digital, and this popularity led to a record number of people attempting to be a part of this year’s Pro Exhibition, with almost half a million taking part in qualification. This year’s qualification is now open through a challenge in the official F1 2021 video game, with the first event live until 31st October. If you would like to find out more information on how to take part in the F1 Esports Series and for more information on the Pro Championship presented by Aramco, visit www.f1esports.com.

Full race results:

Race 1 – Bahrain

Race 2 – China

 

 

 

Race 3 – Austria

 

Ben Pincus, Director of Commercial Partnerships at Formula 1®, said:

“It’s great to see the F1 Esports Series Pro Championship presented by Aramco back underway. We’ve been spoilt with excitement in the real-life racing this year and if these first races are anything to go by, we’re in for a treat this season in the virtual world too.”

 

John Clarke, CEO at Gfinity, said:

“Last year’s record-breaking participation is a testament to Formula 1’s continuous innovation and expansion, bringing more fans than ever into the world of F1 Esports. Off the back of last year’s success, the F1 Esports Series has returned bigger and better than ever, giving Gfinity the opportunity to utilise its tech IP and world-class production to help F1 fans feel ever closer to the series.

 

Paul Jeal, F1 Senior Franchise Director at Codemasters, said:

“We’re into the fifth year of F1 Esports, and the standard continues to get higher and higher, with some blistering lap times and exciting wheel to wheel racing to open the series. A great display from Jarno Opmeer as he tops the drivers’ championship, and it looks like we could have an incredible battle between a handful of teams for the team championship. Roll on the second show.”

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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WSOP® PARADISE 2025 TO BREAK RECORDS AGAIN WITH $60M-GUARANTEED SUPER MAIN EVENT

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The World Series of Poker winter series boasts the biggest prize guarantee in live poker history 

The World Series of Poker (WSOP®) today revealed electrifying details of its highly anticipated WSOP Paradise winter tournament series, headlined by the $60,000,000-guaranteed Super Main Event – the largest prize guarantee in live poker tournament history. This monumental series is set to transform Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas into poker’s ultimate winter playground from Dec. 4 through Dec. 18, hosted in exclusive partnership with GGPoker, the World’s Biggest Poker Room, and Triton, the leading high-stakes tournament organiser.

This third annual iteration of the WSOP Paradise festival will again showcase an unparalleled set of high roller and super high roller events. The tournament schedule will be jointly curated and hosted by WSOP and Triton Poker, ensuring a world-class experience for all players.

The festival’s undisputed crown jewel is the No Limit Hold’em Super Main Event Championship, with a buy-in of $25K. This record-setting tournament boasts an astounding $60,000,000 prize guarantee – a full $10,000,000 higher than last year’s landmark event. In 2024, Yinan Zhou famously outlasted a 1,977 field to claim his first coveted WSOP bracelet and the $6M winner’s prize.

Other festival highlights include:

  • Event #1: WSOP Circuit Championship Mystery Bounty (Dec. 4) – $2,500 buy-in (all WSOP Circuit ring event winners from July 1 through Dec 2. will receive an exclusive $5K Ticket to Paradise package that includes entry to Event #1)
  • Event #3: Triton Pot Limit Omaha Main Event (Dec. 5) – $100K buy-in
  • Event #5: Triton Invitational (Dec. 7) – $250K buy-in (the field will be evenly split between invited players from the worlds of business and entertainment, and their professional poker player guests)
  • Event #9: Triton No Limit Hold’em Main Event (Dec. 9) – $100K buy-in
  • Event #14: GGMillion$ (Dec. 15) – $25K buy-in – $10M prize guarantee

 

“They called us crazy last year for launching the Super Main Event with the biggest live tournament guarantee ever, so consider this a re-raise,” said Ty Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of WSOP. “WSOP Paradise is here to stay, and we’re making poker history once again, with the $60,000,000 guarantee and some new signature events. The expanded partnership with Triton, alongside the new Super Mystery Bounty kickoff event, headlines what is a can’t-miss winter festival.”

Daniel Negreanu, GGPoker Global Ambassador, added: “I said last year that a $50M guarantee for the Super Main Event was crazy – adding another $10,000,000 on top is freaking insane! WSOP is bringing the biggest high rollers and the best poker experience possible back to Paradise, and I cannot wait to be part of it.”

“We’re thrilled to return to WSOP Paradise and bring the Triton experience back to this part of the world,” said Andy Wong, Chief Executive Officer of Triton Poker Series. “WSOP Paradise is a truly exciting stop for us at Triton, and we’re proud to be part of it once again.”

“Each year, WSOP Paradise at Atlantis Paradise Island continues to soar. From the electric atmosphere and high-stakes drama to the passionate fans and unforgettable moments, the tournament is quickly becoming the can’t-miss, most sought-after event of the poker season. With ever-growing prize pools — including a record-breaking $60 million guarantee for the Super Main Event — all set against the iconic backdrop of the world-renowned Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas, there’s truly nothing else like it,” said Joe Brunini, Chief Gaming & Customer Development Officer, Atlantis Paradise Island.

Players can satellite into the WSOP Paradise Super Main Event exclusively at GGPoker, with Road to Paradise qualifier tournaments already live in the GGPoker tournament lobby and more qualifier options set to launch in the coming weeks with WSOP Express. Winning players will secure a $30K WSOP Paradise Super Main Event package, which includes their SME $25K buy-in, discounted accommodation at the exclusive Atlantis Paradise Island resort, complimentary meals, and more.

To kick off the Road to Paradise in true style, WSOP is happy to announce that the player who is knocked out on the prize bubble in this year’s WSOP 2025 $10K Main Event in Las Vegas will be awarded a $30K WSOP Paradise Super Main Event package, instantly transforming the Bubble Boy’s moment of bad luck into a second shot at glory.

The full WSOP Paradise 2025 daily schedule will be revealed later this year. The WSOP reserves the right to cancel, change, or modify the tournament or any tournament event, in part or in whole, without notice.

Please follow @WSOP on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram or check WSOP.com for more event news and updates. More information about this year’s Road to Paradise and WSOP Express qualifiers will be revealed at GGPoker.com in the near future.

The post WSOP® PARADISE 2025 TO BREAK RECORDS AGAIN WITH $60M-GUARANTEED SUPER MAIN EVENT appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Fruity King Launches Bingo Offering Through Strategic Partnership with Playtech

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Fruity King partners with iGaming titan Playtech to bring a diversity of new bingo options for its player base to enjoy.

Fruity King, a well-established name in the UK online casino market and operated by ProgressPlay, has officially launched its all-new bingo product, made possible through a newly announced partnership between ProgressPlay and Playtech, one of the world’s leading gambling technology companies.

The new bingo offering is powered by Playtech Bingo, one of the largest and most respected bingo networks globally. Through this integration, Fruity King players can now enjoy an elevated bingo experience, complete with a wide range of game formats, jackpot options, social rooms, and mobile-optimised features – all accessible directly via the Fruity King Bingo platform.

This partnership is a significant milestone for both companies and underscores ProgressPlay’s ongoing commitment to innovation and product diversification within the online gaming sector. It also marks an exciting new chapter for Fruity King as the brand evolves from a slots and casino-focused site into a more well-rounded, multi-vertical platform.

“We’re excited to bring a fresh bingo experience to our players with the backing of Playtech’s best-in-class technology and network,” said a Fruity King spokesperson. “This launch strengthens our commitment to delivering top-tier entertainment and expands our game offering in a way that reflects what UK players want — quality, variety, and trust.”

Fruity King’s bingo section offers a selection of 90-ball and 75-ball bingo alongside exclusive rooms, community chat features, and daily jackpot draws. These are hosted within Playtech’s established network, which is trusted by leading UK operators and attracts tens of thousands of players daily.

The integration also ensures compatibility across devices, with seamless play on desktop, tablet, and mobile, and is fully supported by responsible gaming features in line with UKGC requirements.

The move aligns with broader trends in the UK iGaming space, where bingo remains a strong growth category, especially among mobile-first users seeking more social and casual gaming experiences. Fruity King’s entry into the space is timely, strategic, and designed to enhance both acquisition and retention metrics across its player base.

As part of the rollout, Fruity King will also support the bingo launch with dedicated promotions, onboarding offers, and cross-vertical incentives for existing slot and table game players.

 

The post Fruity King Launches Bingo Offering Through Strategic Partnership with Playtech appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Movers and Shakers – Beyond integration: Why system interoperability is the real game changer

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Movers and Shakers” is a dynamic monthly column dedicated to exploring the latest trends, developments, and influential voices in the iGaming industry. Powered by GameOn and supported by HIPTHER, this op-ed series delves into the key players, emerging technologies, and regulatory changes shaping the future of online gaming. Each month, industry experts offer their insights and perspectives, providing readers with in-depth analysis and thought-provoking commentary on what’s driving the iGaming world forward. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the scene, “Movers and Shakers” is your go-to source for staying ahead in the rapidly evolving iGaming landscape.

 

Dominic Le Garsmeur (CPO) at Fincore, says integrations without a clear interoperability strategy add technical and operational debt, hampering future growth.

System integrations are hugely important for any online sportsbook or casino, adding capabilities and features to drive growth.  But integrating without considering and optimising interoperability can do more harm than good by adding technical and operational debt to the business and ultimately hitting growth.

Integrating without interoperability pushes information from one system to another, but the connection itself has no intelligence. It’s a mechanical link, and the systems remain fundamentally separate, each operating with its own distinct rules. Any real understanding, like why that data was sent or what other processes it should trigger, is lost, creating data silos that are technically connected but strategically disconnected.

System interoperability provides the intelligence the connection lacks, establishing a shared operational model for the platform so all systems can act in concert. Most importantly, it creates a future-proof foundation, allowing new capabilities and features to be added with agility and confidence, turning the platform into an engine for innovation rather than a source of technical debt.

Before looking at why interoperability is more powerful than integration, and how companies can solve it, it’s important to understand how disconnects between platforms and systems occur in the first place.

 

Why does disconnection happen?

Operators acquire their tech stacks in different ways, but usually through a combination of building, inheriting legacy tech, acquisition and third-party providers. This often leads to platform and system silos with little to no compatibility between them.

Ultimately, disconnected systems drag down delivery and without interoperability, companies waste time reconciling platforms and tech rather than advancing forward.

 

Interoperability is more powerful than integration

Integration often means linking systems at a basic level, but interoperability ensures that data, logic and workflows are aligned and extensible.

It’s critical to have a strategic data layer and shared data structures that enables standardising of data representations, aligning systems at the logic level, not just the interface, and building an architecture designed to unify and extend across platforms.

In complex industries such as gaming, where tech plays such an important role in the user experience and the trust consumers have in brands, system interoperability is the only way to scale with control. In short, integration links, interoperability empowers.

 

Why interoperability is such a challenge in the gaming industry

Each integration is unique. Why? Because the combination of legacy systems, niche vendors and varying regulations in markets across the world means there is no blueprint for operators to follow.

Remember, most operator platforms are now decades old and were not built with modularity or openness in mind. And even those developing new platforms and systems from scratch often lack the in-house capability to design for interoperability from the get-go.

 

The risk of not achieving interoperability

When systems don’t interoperate, things start to fall apart. For example, delivery can grind to a halt, with every new feature launch or market entry becoming a grind. There are compliance risks, too, especially when it comes to fractured data and an increased risk of errors and audit gaps.

Then, of course, there is the poor player experience that will be provided. This could be anything from glitchy games to failed deposits and even the wrong marketing communications being sent to the wrong player cohorts.

It also impacts an operator’s ability to develop and innovate, as IT and tech become reactive rather than proactive. And in such a competitive market, this can see a brand quickly fall behind the curve.

 

How to solve the interoperability conundrum

Ensuring interoperability is a complex and comprehensive undertaking, but there are some high-level things operators can do.

This starts with standardising critical data flows and logic, not just the interface. Remember, a single view of data is what ensures all the platforms, systems and networks communicate with each other in the same language.

Operators should also design for change, as architecture must support long-term growth and plug-and-play modularity. In most cases, it’s best to invest in strategic partners, not just tools.

 

How strategic partners can help

Partners such as Fincore can provide the strategic clarity operators need, defining what interoperability looks like for them and based on their business goals. We also bring execution muscle – we don’t just design it, we build it.

The right partner also brings compliance confidence. Companies such as Fincore are highly experienced when it comes to interoperability, and everything we do stands up to regulatory scrutiny.

This can be seen in our proven track record for delivering interoperability for everything from complex migrations to global-scale game roll-outs.

 

A real-world example of interoperability

Fincore worked with a US-based gaming services provider whose legacy systems across its land-based venues had created silos in payments, loyalty and in-resort experiences.

The solution we proposed saw us design and deliver a digital wallet that became the unified digital layer across the physical properties. We also integrated deeply with multiple rigid legacy systems to provide secure and compliant interoperability at scale.

The result? We delivered on time, unlocked a new digital product line and created a long-term tech foundation for the company to continue to build on.

When it comes to integrations, you can always wire systems together, but if you don’t do it in the right way, you get chaos. Interoperability is about creating order within platforms and systems, which in turn allows for unlimited scaling and growth.

And that’s why interoperability is the real game-changer.

The post Movers and Shakers – Beyond integration: Why system interoperability is the real game changer appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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