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Ahyeon Polytechnic High School Pioneers esports as Academic Discipline
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Ahyeon Polytechnic High School in South Korea has pioneered the idea of esports as an academic discipline.
The course was the brainchild of Bang Seung-ho, who started 10 years ago as a counselor and is now the principal of the school, which teaches courses from cookery to music and design.
He was sick, he said, of seeing kids, especially boys, turning up late and half asleep, resentful and swearing at their teachers, because they had spent much of the night playing video games. So he decided to bring the internet cafe to the school and video games into the classroom.
When Bang started out, people dismissed him as eccentric and many parents viewed the course as a waste of time. Even today, there are plenty of cynics, but Bang said they are coming around to the idea of esports as a way of channeling their children’s interests and abilities — and as a pathway to a career.
“People poked their fingers at me, but I knew this was a space the students needed,” Bang Seung-ho said.
The huge incomes on offer for professional gamers definitely help sell the idea. But there is another side for this. In April, the World Health Organisation included “gaming disorder” for the first time among its International Classification of Diseases, defining it as gaming taking “precedence over other life interests and daily activities.”
“Students don’t really get addicted to gaming itself. It’s more that they seek shelter in gaming to run away from reality, when they fall short of parental expectations for academic achievement, or when they get bullied in school,” he said.
“Students used to react angrily when we told them to turn off their game at the end of each session. But with counseling and guidance, students gradually learned to control the duration of their game time,” he added.
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: Ahyeon Polytechnic High School Pioneers esports as Academic Discipline

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Kantar Finds Security Driving iGaming, SOFTSWISS Leading Loyalty
SOFTSWISS, a global tech provider with over 15 years of iGaming expertise, shares first takeaways from a Kantar-led qualitative study conducted at iGB L!VE London, showing that security, reliability and revenue-growth potential are the most influential criteria when selecting iGaming software partners. The findings also place SOFTSWISS first by Net Promoter Score (NPS) – the industry benchmark for client loyalty and advocacy.
Designed as an event-based, face-to-face qualitative survey, the Kantar study explored how operators, game providers, and iGaming tech companies make procurement and partnership decisions. Across the total sample, respondents most frequently ranked safety and security of operations as the number-one driver, followed by a reliable partner with a strong market reputation and the ability to open up new revenue opportunities. Close behind were stable, low-downtime infrastructure and a high level of client service – signalling that risk mitigation and dependable delivery are the baseline for partnership decisions, with growth enablement expected rather than optional.
The study revealed a clear divide in priorities between final decision-makers and decision influencers. Influencers place comparatively more weight on the “everyday assurances” of an iGaming platform, like:Â
- SecurityÂ
- Client serviceÂ
- Optimised service infrastructureÂ
Final decision-makers look further out, prioritising:Â
- Stable infrastructure with minimal downtimeÂ
- Clear business-growth leversÂ
- A reliable partner with a strong market reputationÂ
For vendors, the takeaway is to address both sides: demonstrate service excellence to operational stakeholders and prove resilience, scalability and go-live readiness to executive sponsors.
Olga Resiga, Chief Business Development Officer at SOFTSWISS, said: “Security and reliability are now the non-negotiables of iGaming procurement. What Kantar’s work highlights is the two-lens buying logic: operational teams evaluate partners on day-to-day assurance – robust security, responsive support and efficient infrastructure – while final decision-makers judge long-term resilience, Tier-1 launch readiness and the capacity to unlock new revenues. Our roadmap is built for both: verifiable security and service benchmarks today, coupled with proven high-load performance and compliance for tomorrow’s growth.”
Net Promoter Score, calculated as the share of promoters minus detractors, is a widely used indicator of client loyalty. SOFTSWISS achieved the highest NPS in the evaluated set. In open responses, clients most often described SOFTSWISS as a “reputable company” and “most reliable”, repeatedly citing “reliability” as the key reason for high ratings. Beyond NPS, SOFTSWISS was most frequently associated with a broad range of strengths: safety and security, a reliable partner with strong market standing, stable and low-downtime tech infrastructure, and a high level of client service.
SOFTSWISS continues to share market-ready expertise with industry stakeholders. Recent resources include the Sportsbook Online Calculator and the iGaming in LatAm Report, both available on the SOFTSWISS website.
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About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS provides certified software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 30,000 casino games, the Affilka affiliate platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. The expert team counts over 2,000 employees.
The post Kantar Finds Security Driving iGaming, SOFTSWISS Leading Loyalty appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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ELA Games at SBC Lisbon: New Games, Market Growth, and Awards Night
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The ELA Games team is attending the event to demonstrate new developments
ELA Games, a dynamic game development studio, announces its attendance at SBC Lisbon, set to take place at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa & Meo Arena from 16 – 18 September.
Attending the event will be:
- Marharyta Yerina, Managing Director
- Oleksii Shulhin, Head of ELA Games
- Yaroslav Soloshenko, Team Lead Business Development Manager
- Petr Vonarshenko, Business Development Manager
- Sadaf Ali, Senior Account Manager
SBC Lisbon is a key annual gathering in the online gaming and betting industry, welcoming over 30,000 delegates to experience innovations, cutting-edge products, and networking opportunities. The ELA Games team will take the global stage to connect with partners, demonstrate its casino-and-player-centric development approach, and reveal new roadmap developments.
At the event, ELA Games will highlight its diverse portfolio, including recent hits from the Winpot series (Joker Winpot, Zeus Winpot, Rabbit Winpot Deluxe), visually rich classics like Juicy Crystal and Flame Fruits Frenzy, and innovative new releases such as Shoot Happens. The team will also preview upcoming titles and discuss recent expansions into important growing markets like Denmark, Sweden, Greece, and more.
Adding to the studio’s momentum, the SBC Awards have nominated ELA Games in the “Innovation in Casino Entertainment (Supplier)” category. The award ceremony will take place on September 18 for a night celebrating excellence and forward-thinking solutions. This shortlisting highlights ELA Games’ ongoing efforts to push the boundaries of online gaming and create new experiences for both operators and players.
Marharyta Yerina, ELA Games’ Managing Director, commented, “We’re always excited to attend SBC events as they’re one of the biggest gatherings of the year where we’re able to see many of our partners and make new meaningful connections. This year, ELA Games has plenty to show the world, as we’ve made numerous additions to our portfolio, developed new mechanics, and pushed ourselves creatively. The team is looking forward to sharing all we’ve been up to, and equally excited to attend the award ceremony!”
ELA Games invites all attendees to visit Stand B350 to chat with the team, explore creative solutions to bolster your content library, and find new ways to engage your player base.
📅 Dates: 16–18 September
📍 Location: Stand B350, Feira Internacional de Lisboa & Meo Arena
The post ELA Games at SBC Lisbon: New Games, Market Growth, and Awards Night appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Boomerang Partners officially launches Golden Boomerang League 2025
From September 1 to October 31, participants will compete for a pass to the Golden Boomerang Awards and other prizes.
Boomerang Partners, a rapidly growing global affiliate iGaming & Betting Marketing Agency, officially launches the first season of its new tournament, the Golden Boomerang League. All active affiliate partners of Boomerang are enrolled automatically. If you are a newcomer, register on the competition’s landing page.
Each participant has two months (from September 1 to October 31, 2025) to generate 20 sports FTDs on brands from Boomerang’s portfolio and make it to the finalists’ list. The winners will be announced on stage in a solemn atmosphere on the second day of SiGMA Rome, on November 5, 2025, and will receive well-deserved recognition.
What’s at stake
All participants of the Golden Boomerang League who generate 20 sports FTDs will automatically enter the prize draw. A grand prize is a unique, automatic qualification in the third season of the annual global traffic tournament for affiliate teams, the Golden Boomerang Awards 2026, bypassing the competition for the top 30 or inclusion in nominations. GBA is a landmark event for the industry, which not everyone can participate in. It allows Boomerang’s affiliate partners to demonstrate their expertise on a global level, compete for various awards, and attend a large-scale award ceremony at a top location. Additionally, the top performing participants can get “money can’t buy experiences”: participation in exclusive networking events with industry leaders, visits to the iconic San Siro Stadium in Milan, and meetings with AC Milan Legends, such as football icon Andrea Pirlo.
Also, as an Official Regional Partner of AC Milan, Boomerang Partners offers 2x AC Milan Experience. The winners will receive a complete package, including flight, accommodation, and attendance at an AC Milan match at the iconic San Siro Stadium in Milan.
By the way, participants who have qualified for the prize draw will receive a surprise. Keep an eye on the details on the website.
The race has started
There’s not much time – join the Golden Boomerang League, where legends are made, now. Demonstrate your expertise and win automatic access to the elite Golden Boomerang Awards 2026 tournament.
About Boomerang
Boomerang Partners is a rapidly growing global brand offering a wide range of services. Boomerang 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. Boomerang launched six new products in 2024, contributing to a nearly 1.5-fold increase in product users.
Boomerang’s portfolio contains 18+ brands offering affiliate and entertainment services across 40+ markets in compliance with local regulations. These products provide personalized bonuses and 24/7 multilingual support.
The post Boomerang Partners officially launches Golden Boomerang League 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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