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TIGA Calls for the Launch of a Video Games Investment Fund
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TIGA, the network for games developers and digital publishers, and the trade association representing the video games industry, has called on the Chancellor to introduce a Video Games Investment Fund (VGIF) in the 2018 Budget to enhance studios’ access to finance, promote the development of original IP and to encourage studio growth.
The VGIF would make grants or loans of between £75,000 and £500,000 available to games businesses on a matched funding basis. TIGA made the comments in a new report, Sustaining Success: A Video Games Investment Fund (October 2018) in advance of the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget on October 29th 2018.
Tom Watson MP, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said:
“Britain’s video games industry is a world leader, and it’s vital that it stays that way. TIGA’s proposal for a Games Investment Fund is something Labour is seriously considering as a way to boost innovation, investment and jobs in the sector. We need to make sure we sustain success in one of our most important creative industries.”
Chris Law MP, Co-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Video Games in the Westminster Parliament, said:
“Establishing TIGA’s proposed Games Investment Fund would boost investment and employment and help to grow the video games industry in the all of the UK’s creative hotspots, including the Dundee and wider Scottish games development clusters.”
Access to finance is a challenge for many UK games developers
Games developers typically struggle to raise debt finance because they have relatively few assets and little financial track record. Equally, most venture capitalists and business angels will not invest in games because of high risk levels, low knowledge levels about the industry and high, largely fixed costs of due diligence relative to the amount of equity sought. This creates a market failure in access to finance.
A Solution: A Video Games Investment Fund
The Government should introduce a VGIF to improve developers’ access to finance:
- The VGIF could provide funding of between £75,000 and £500,000 to games developers nationwide. Funding between £75,000 and £100,000 would be delivered as grants while above £100,000 soft loans would be matched pound for pound to ensure that games companies find new investment from other sources.
- A commercial mentoring business advisory service, staffed by paid industry veterans, would be mandated for successful companies.
- The VGIF could be financed via Grant in Aid, the British Business Bank or the National Lottery and could be managed by the UK Games Talent and Finance Community Interest Company, the BGI, a British Business Bank-backed fund such as Mercia Technologies, the British Film Institute or the Arts Councils.
The impact of the VGIF
Research commissioned by TIGA shows that the VGIF would have a positive impact on the UK’s games industry and wider economy. The return on investment of £26.5m over 5 years represents good value for money and over the five years from 2019 to 2023, the VGIF would:
- increase headcount by nearly 1,500 staff;
- create over 2,700 indirect jobs in the supply chain around games development;
- encourage games companies to invest an additional £215 million in development expenditure;
- contribute an additional £197 million in tax revenues over 5 years;
- help 175 studios (17 per cent of total);
- increase Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by an additional £480 million.
Dr Richard Wilson OBE, TIGA CEO, said:
“TIGA’s plan for a Video Games Investment Fund would improve developers’ access to finance, encourage the creation of new IP and strengthen the UK video games industry. The matched funding criteria would attract new investment from new investors into games and drive employment in the industry. The VGIF would also enhance productivity growth in the sector by catalysing investment in capital, skills and innovation.
“A similar scheme in Finland operated by the agency Tekes has provided financial support to over one fifth of the entire Finnish games industry’s studio population. The programme has more than paid for itself: for every euro invested by Tekes in the games industry, a return ranging from nine to 26 euros has been generated.”
Ahead of the 2018 Budget, TIGA has called on the Chancellor to introduce the VGIF, reform the Apprenticeship Levy into a more general Training Levy, and make sure that video games companies have access to skilled foreign workers by keeping salaries for Tier 2 visas at competitive levels.
About TIGA:
TIGA is the network for games developers and digital publishers and the trade association representing the video games industry. Our core purpose is to strengthen the games development and digital publishing sector. We achieve this by campaigning for the industry in the corridors of power, championing the industry in the media and helping our members commercially.
TIGA is intent on building an enduring organisation which continually improves; a business that will make a significant impact on the games industry and so benefit our membership and the wider economy. Since 2010, TIGA has won 24 business awards, an achievement which reflects TIGA’s drive for improvement and to meet best practice.
The economic impact assessment of the GIF has been carried out by Games Investor Consulting. For a copy of Sustaining Success: A Games Investment Fund (TIGA, October 2017), please contact: [email protected]
Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network
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Yaspa, the award-winning Pay by Bank fintech, today announced a new partnership with Sterling Lotteries, the UK’s market-leading External Lottery Manager (ELM). Sterling has selected Yaspa as its primary open banking payments provider for prize-led fundraising, enabling faster, safer, and more efficient supporter payments across its charity lottery programmes.
Sterling powers weekly lotteries and raffles for 800+ UK charities, from local organisations to national causes. By integrating Yaspa, Sterling can offer a streamlined Pay by Bank experience that confirms entries in real-time, reduces processing costs, and strengthens fraud protection, thereby freeing up more funds for impact.
Yaspa’s Head of Commercial, Amie Kadhim, said: “Sterling sets a high bar for reliability, security, and supporter experience. We’re proud to power their next chapter with instant bank payments that help charities move faster, enhance engagement, and achieve more with every donation.”
The partnership aligns with Sterling’s ongoing modernisation of the charity lottery model, bringing the convenience supporters expect, while improving cashflow and operational efficiency for fundraising teams. Entry confirmation is immediate and funds settle instantly, helping charities plan with confidence and reduce admin overheads.
Richard Dixon, Managing Director at Sterling, said: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with Yaspa to deliver an open banking solution that represents a true sector-first innovation. From the outset, it was clear that Yaspa shares Sterling’s vision for using technology to drive meaningful change in the charity lottery space. Open banking has transformed retail and financial services and now we’re bringing that same innovation to fundraising. It’s faster, more secure, and significantly more cost-effective for charities. By harnessing open banking, we offer charities a bold, efficient, and future-proof way to engage supporters, especially digital-first donors who expect a seamless experience.”
Key benefits for Sterling and its charity partners include:
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Instant payment settlement and immediate entry confirmation
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Lower processing costs compared with traditional methods i.e. debit and credit cards
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Reduced fraud and chargeback risk, utilising bank-grade security
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A smoother, mobile-first, user journey for supporters
The post Sterling Lotteries selects Yaspa as its primary open banking payments partner appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
RocketPlay Casino has been awarded Best Customer Service at the European iGaming Excellence Awards 2025 — a widely respected industry award celebrating excellence and innovation worldwide.
For RocketPlay, this award marks a major milestone — proof that genuine care, innovation, and consistent performance are noticed and appreciated by the iGaming industry.
“Our goal has always been simple — to create a service that players can rely on,” said Alex Martin, PR Manager at RocketPlay. “Winning this award highlights that our focus on trust, speed, and human connection truly makes a difference.”
This recognition also reflects the daily work of RocketPlay’s 24/7 multilingual support team, which delivers help within seconds and reaches 90%+ one-touch resolution. The casino maintains a CSAT score above 90%, and over half of all inquiries are now handled through AI-powered chat while keeping the tone personal and friendly.
The brand continues to strengthen its reputation across the community, holding top ratings such as 9.8/10 on CasinoGuru, 9.1/10 on AskGamblers, 4.4/5 on Trustpilot, and 4.3/5 on LCB.
RocketPlay remains committed to pushing standards higher — ensuring every player receives fast assistance, transparent communication. We thank the award organizers and the jury for this meaningful recognition.
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Boomerang Partners celebrated Golden Boomerang League winners and engaged booth guests with a gift auction at SiGMA Europe 2025
Boomerang Partners, an affiliate marketing agency and an Official Regional Partner of AC Milan, participated in SiGMA Europe 2025 in Rome from November 4th to 6th, 2025. The company’s booth generated heightened interest among conference participants throughout the event. It was designed in the signature ‘Boomerang Arena’ concept, effectively connecting sports and modern technologies. The booth was divided into several themed zones dedicated to football, tennis, basketball, and boxing, as well as locations for sports-related activities.
One of the main highlights of Boomerang Partners’ participation in the Rome event was the announcement of the Golden Boomerang League winners. This sports traffic tournament took place from September 1st to October 31st. It involved current and new Boomerang Partners’ affiliate partners. 68 teams, which generated 20+ sports FTDs for brands from Boomerang Partners’ client portfolio over the two-month tournament period, made it to the final draw. On November 4th, the company determined the winners using certified randomization tools. The winners became:
- QQMedia (prize — direct access to the annual Golden Boomerang Awards tournament)
- Apex Media (AC Milan Experience package, including paid flight, accommodation, and attendance at an AC Milan home match at San Siro Stadium in Milan)
- Luis Xavier (AC Milan Experience package, including paid flight, accommodation, and an AC Milan home match attendance).
The CEO of QQMedia commented: “Those who know me understand that I work with some of the largest operators in the industry, but Boomerang Partners will always hold a special place in my heart. What they are building is truly impressive, and I am proud to be part of this journey, witnessing how Boomerang Partners is steadily evolving from an underdog into a true power player.
A big thank you also goes to their entire team, especially the affiliate department, and in particular to Lilli, whose outstanding work, constant availability, and solution-oriented approach deserve special recognition.
The next goal is of course to win the Golden Boomerang Awards 2026, and we will give it our all to make that happen.”
Boomerang Partners’ booth guests could play ping-pong with promoters, who were actually professional players in disguise, as well as participate in Soccer Penalty Shootout, bowling, volleyball, tennis, and badminton using Nintendo Switch Sports. For participation and wins, they received chips of various denominations. Chips could also be earned by completing tasks on the Wheel of Fortune, ordering drinks at the bar, and even finding them in the open areas of the SiGMA Rome venue. On November 5th, Boomerang Partners hosted a gift auction at their booth, with chips as a currency. These prizes were raffled off:
- Luka Modrić (AC Milan) signed jersey
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Ray-Ban | Meta Wayfarer smart glasses
- Apple AirPods Pro 3
Those participants who failed to win the auction were in for a surprise. The next day, November 6th, a gift shop with items of varying prices opened at the Boomerang Partners booth. Booth guests could exchange chips for these gifts, which included, for example, AC Milan t-shirts, electric air pumps, instant photo printers, and other prizes.
Anton Eshtokin, Chief Marketing Officer at Boomerang Partners, commented: “Continuing the development of the ‘Boomerang Arena’ concept, we tried to bring numerous sports elements and meanings into the booth atmosphere, thus once again revealing our sports DNA and strategic vector. We traditionally applied the formula that connects business solutions, entertainment, and marketing activities.
We strive to make our booth a place that attracts partners and media, putting considerable effort into preparation, and believe that we have managed to solve the set tasks. We are already preparing for iGB Affiliate in Barcelona and invite you to visit our booth in advance.”
Boomerang Partners are ending 2025 on a major note, but they’re not saying goodbye for long. Stay tuned.
About Boomerang
Boomerang Partners is a rapidly growing global marketing agency offering a wide range of services. Boomerang Partners is the Official Regional Partner of AC Milan. In 2024, it launched the inaugural Golden Boomerang Awards — a global tournament for affiliate teams. More than 400 affiliate teams participated in the second season of the tournament in 2025. The agency launched six new products in 2024-2025, contributing to a nearly 1.5-fold increase in product users.
The agency’s client portfolio contains 13+ brands offering affiliate and entertainment services across 40+ markets in compliance with local regulations. These products provide personalized bonuses and 24/7 multilingual support.
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