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How the Gaming Industry Utilises the Power of Football

Published

7 years ago

September 6, 2018

Reading Time: 3 minutes

After a glorious FIFA World Cup summer, we once again make the return to domestic matters with all of Europe’s elite leagues now underway. Yes, the football season has resumed in all its relentless glory, and while not all of us can be top players, earning millions and enjoying the Instagram lifestyle, we can, in part, join in. How? Through video games where football isn’t just about pretending to be Mo Salah or Pep Guardiola—it’s about so much more.

Following the success of the World Cup-based, free-to-play competition, the “$100 MILLION Challenge”, The Stars Group rebooted their Spin & Go games into Spin & Goals—and their game Football Star is just the latest example of the gaming industry piggy-backing off of football’s popularity to promote its products. However, when it comes to video games, there are two staples of any new football season, the first of which is Football Manager. This year’s management sim is released on November 2 and will be titled “Football Manager 2019”. Evolving over the last 25 years from the original title “Championship Manager”, this game created—and then defined—the genre, and since its conception, no one else gets remotely close. For those of you looking for the ultimate football management experience, you need Football Manager 2019 in your life.

This game covers everything from on-field tactics to squad management. You must ensure that you keep rested players happy while working with the medical staff to maintain peak squad fitness. The real beauty of the game, though, comes from the transfer market where you get to scout, buy, and, of course, sell players in order to construct your winning team. Makers Sports Interactive have produced a game so definitive that scenarios mirror real-life situations that today’s managers have to deal with. It also comes with an accurate global database so massive that it contains pretty much every player in every league around the world. The only major league that the game didn’t hold the licence rights for was Germany’s Bundesliga, but that, too, will now be added in this year’s edition.

Play the Real Thing

The other staple of a new football season is EA Sport’s FIFA 19 (as it will be titled this year). The makers spare no expense, and it shows. It’s expensive and luxurious and it is unquestionably the “football game of football games”. Popular the world over, and now considered to be an e-sport, FIFA 19’s graphics are so accurate that you feel like you could be watching a live match. And the commentary comes off as real and authentic, too. Thanks to the related mini-game, FIFA Ultimate Team, the game also encourages you to purchase in-game Panini-style stickers to build up your dream team. This feature also works on mobile. Also popular is the “journey mode” that puts you in control of an aspiring pro’s career; it’s your job to turn him in to an international superstar. FIFA 19 is due out on September 28, and, for the first time, it will include the full Champions League licence.

The other sim, very much in FIFA’s shadow but still very much loved, is Pro Evolution Soccer 2019. There was a time when Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) and FIFA were going head-to-head, but this feels like a long time ago now, as FIFA has pulled away in such style. This is largely due to budgets, as Konami never had all the licences that its richer rival had. Whereas FIFA offered all teams, PES offered “North London Reds” and “Man Blue”. They do, however, have Barcelona and Liverpool (whom they sponsor) on their books so it’s not all bad. And, for the record, the gameplay is not bad either—thanks to the silkiness of its passing system and the on-pitch feel— which is why PES still has many fans. PES 2019 is already available for the loyalists among you.

90’s Arcade Classic

Sensible Soccer ruled the nineties. Photo Credit: Gary Denham, CC BY

Speaking of loyalists, back in the 90’s there was a cherished classic, pixel-heavy, no-frills football game that gained an army of fans, thanks to its vastly different offering. Back then, Sensible Soccer was considered to be the king of football games, even when considered among better-looking releases. Now, almost 25 years on, the arcade-style game will soon be making a return under the name Sociable Soccer. And, comfortingly, this will be released using 3D tools from Jon Hare’s Tower Studios, the studio that brought us its beloved predecessor. However, this is very much a “watch this space” matter at the moment, as Sociable Soccer is currently only available via Steam Early Access for PC. One early teaser to look out for is a player-card in-game feature similar to FIFA’s Ultimate Team, and while it looks as though it will initially be a PC game, console versions are also planned. These new releases and rebooted, old favourites just go to prove that there remains a healthy appetite for football games and, quite frankly, long may that continue.

Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network

Related Topics:gambling industry in Europe

George Miller

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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DATA.BET Exhibits at ICE Barcelona 2026

Published

15 minutes ago

December 19, 2025

George Miller

The company unveils new features and reinforces its focus on casino operators

DATA.BET, a leading sportsbook solution supplier, attends ICE Barcelona 2026 from January 19 to 21, presenting its latest product developments at stand 5G31. Visitors can explore expanded capabilities and recent enhancements, including the newly launched Bet Boost and Picture-in-Picture tools.

Next year, DATA.BET presents its portfolio under the slogan “Betting That Works.” The focus of this approach is to deliver technology that works seamlessly from the moment it is integrated, operating without interruptions. The core priority includes ease of use, flexible customization, growing performance metrics and ongoing technical support from a dedicated team.

At ICE 2026, DATA.BET will highlight a solution for casino operators by demonstrating how adding a sportsbook can enhance user engagement, prolong player activity, and generate new revenue streams. The plug-and-play Single Page Application (iFrame) enables operators to integrate a customizable, SEO-optimized sportsbook around one week, adapted to specific brand designs, promotions, and user flows.

As part of its presence at the exhibition, DATA.BET will run two prize activities at stand 5G31 on January 19–20, giving attendees the chance to win an iPhone 17 Pro. Visitors can participate in one of two ways: by joining the Business Card Lottery, visiting the booth, meeting the team, and leaving a business card, or by taking part in an interactive cosplay challenge featuring DATA.BET cosplayers inspired by iconic characters from the world’s most popular esports titles are taking photos with them and sharing them on LinkedIn. The winners of both activities will be announced at the DATA.BET stands on January 20, in the afternoon.

Otto Bonning, Head of Sales, stated, “At ICE Barcelona, we aim to demonstrate to operators that betting products can be both simple and effective. One primary focus will also be to openly discuss our performance and showcase the numbers that indicate why some of the industry’s leading brands are today using our services. We will cover topics such as delivered margins, the importance of risk management, our SPA (iFrame) capabilities, and new features ready for implementation”.

The post DATA.BET Exhibits at ICE Barcelona 2026 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

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Arena Racing Company awarded United Arab Emirates Gaming-Related Vendor License

Published

15 minutes ago

December 19, 2025

George Miller

Arena Racing Company (ARC) has been granted a Gaming-Related Vendor license from the United Arab Emirates’ General Commercial Gaming Authority (GCGRA), an independent entity of the UAE Federal Government with exclusive jurisdiction to regulate, license, and supervise all commercial gaming activities.

The license, operational with immediate effect, affords ARC the opportunity to provide its products and services to licensed operators in the region. Notably, the Racing1 Markets service, an all-in-one horse and greyhound racing solution delivered in conjunction with Racing1 alliance media rights partners at 1/ST CONTENT, Racecourse Media Group (RMG), and Tabcorp, alongside technical partner Pythia Sports. ARC has been added to the list of licensed vendors as per the GCGRA website.

Jack Whitaker, Commercial Manager at ARC, said: “Obtaining this license is a great achievement for ARC and its Racing1 partners. The emerging regulated UAE market is incredibly exciting, and we look forward to showcasing our innovative products and services in the region.”

The post Arena Racing Company awarded United Arab Emirates Gaming-Related Vendor License appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

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SOFTSWISS 2025: 45% Game Portfolio Growth, LatAm Extensive Expansion and Flagship iGaming Trends Report

Published

15 minutes ago

December 19, 2025

George Miller

SOFTSWISS, an international iGaming technology provider with over 15 years of experience, closed 2025 with a series of key milestones, including the release of the fourth edition of its flagship iGaming Trends Report, the first industry trends conference, and a 45% expansion of its iGaming content portfolio across 24 regulated jurisdictions.

Certified Market Expansion and Industry Leadership

Following certifications in Africa, SOFTSWISS secured full certification in Brazil, one of the world’s largest newly regulated iGaming markets, and expanded its presence in Europe. The company also renewed its partnership with Formula 1 legend Rubens Barrichello, Non-Executive Director in Latin America, entering the second year of collaboration focused on strengthening brand credibility and regional market presence.

The year concluded at SiGMA Central Europe 2025, marking the culmination of the SOFTSWISS content-driven strategy. The event combined the launch of the 4th edition of the flagship 2026 iGaming Trends Report, based on expert insights, AI-driven analysis, and independent research by Kantar, as well as the company’s first four-hour conference, ‘iGaming Trends Marathon’, featuring keynotes and panel discussions, and a three-day live assembly of an Alfa Romeo 4C, which was presented to partner Lottu, reinforcing SOFTSWISS’ partner-first growth model.

Ivan Montik, Founder of SOFTSWISS, comments: “2025 has been a year of global expansion and strengthened market presence for SOFTSWISS as a trusted technology partner, delivering reliable, regulation-ready solutions across Europe, Africa, and Latin America. I am proud that today we provide compliant technology across 14 regulated markets, fully compliant with local requirements and maintaining 100% technical stability for our partners.”

Product Maturity and Technical Performance

The SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator has strengthened its position as a reliable iGaming content hub, delivering high-quality games from in-demand studios and now featuring over 40,000 active games from more than 300 providers. With 99.999% uptime, it expanded availability in new markets, including Brazil and Peru. With over 600 clients worldwide, the solution remains a trusted engine for casino growth.

The SOFTSWISS Sportsbook continued to scale as a platform-agnostic and mobile-first solution. In 2025, the platform expanded its bonus mechanics, added new gamification features, and introduced additional content verticals to support a wider range of betting strategies. SOFTSWISS launched its first Sportsbook Network Jackpot with a €35,000 initial pool, awarding over €80,000 to the first winner.

Operators benefit from fast rollout on any casino platform and strong risk and retention support. With the Sportsbook setup times as short as 14 days, its partners are well-positioned to prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Jackpot Aggregator celebrated a record Prime Network Jackpot win of 1,400,000 euro and several product advancements. New features include paid participation campaigns, customisable jackpot widgets, and enhanced drops and multi-prize mechanics, providing operators with more efficient tools to engage and retain players. As a result, operators launched over 500 jackpot campaigns in 2025, generating more than 70,000 jackpot hits.

The SOFTSWISS Casino Platform marked its 12th year with strong client satisfaction, achieving a score of 8.3 out of 10, according to Kantar research. Focused upgrades in stability, management, and compliance further strengthened its role as a reliable software for online casino operations.

Affilka by SOFTSWISS continued its upward trajectory, surpassing 500,000 affiliate accounts and 122 million registered players. New features, including advanced click analytics, API-based campaign tools, and a sub-affiliate revenue share model, further support operators seeking more efficient and data-driven affiliate programmes

New Markets & Compliance

Throughout the year, SOFTSWISS maintained a strong industry presence, participating in 50+ events, delivering 27 public speaking sessions, and receiving 28 industry awards across Europe, Latin America, Africa, and South Asia for its product portfolio, marketing execution, and individual professional achievements. Together, these results reinforce SOFTSWISS’ position as a reliable, regulation-ready technology partner with proven scale and long-term relevance across global markets.

About SOFTSWISS

SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 40,00 casino games, Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.

The post SOFTSWISS 2025: 45% Game Portfolio Growth, LatAm Extensive Expansion and Flagship iGaming Trends Report appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.