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Sports and Gaming – Playing by a New Set of Rules

Reading Time: 3 minutes
The pandemic has brought the sports industry to its knees but against the backdrop of global crisis, opportunities have arisen for others. While the sports business is set to lose as much as US$61.6 billion1 in missed revenues by the end of the year, the gaming sector, on the other hand, will generate revenues of $159.3 billion, a +9.3% year-on-year increase.2
Although largely driven by unforeseen circumstances, the pandemic has highlighted the large gulf in the prioritisation of fan experience between the two. As OZ Sports CEO Gudjon Gudjonsson explains, the sports industry has much to learn from gaming if it is to maintain and grow its global fanbase.
If there is one positive element to come out of this all for the sports industry, it is that leagues, federations and teams have had to rethink their way of doing business. The pandemic has accelerated innovation on various fronts. This is especially the case with the return of sport behind closed doors, with the need to remotely manage the production of leagues and make fans feel part of the live experience from the comfort of their homes.
The temporary state of the live sports sector, with limited or no fans in stadiums, has only amplified a bigger and more recognisable challenge. Pandemic or no pandemic, studies show that 90% of fans are unable to watch their favourite team in their home stadium due to factors such as location or finance.
At OZ Sports, what COVID-19 has taught us is that we need to accelerate our vision in making the fan experience more interactive and engaging. The new generation of fans expects to be able to share their experiences without geographical boundaries. OZ is keeping sports more relevant, broadening the fanbase by opening up the physical stadium.
This is where we have looked to gaming. The prioritisation of user engagement has seen games companies constantly explore new ways to deliver content to consumers. As a result, gaming platforms are becoming social networks in their own right and established social platforms are seizing this opportunity to invest further in games to maintain and grow their user database. Gaming is driving forward the reality of the metaverse – virtual social spaces that are always open, always on, and always expanding.
So, what does that mean for the sports industry? We are still in the early days of sports broadcasting, and there is a lot we can learn from gaming. Our thinking around the intersection of sports and gaming can be seen everywhere in the OZ Sports strategy. It’s in how we think, how we work, and how we innovate as a company. As a tech business with influential investors from the gaming industry, we foster a different culture than traditional sports broadcasting companies.
Our tech stack is ours, from end-to-end. We mostly leverage technologies on how we do sports production that has until now mostly belonged to gaming companies, which opens up a totally new world for us. At the core, we have our gaming engine, built on a robust machine learning software stack that analyses what is going on in the game, in real-time. From there we further develop our broadcasting technologies, with a layer for services like augmented graphics and avatars, to applications like tracking or a more intuitive replay system, to name but a few. This allows us to work differently as a team of innovators and compete more creatively as a company.
By embracing everything that the gaming industry is positively doing to engage with its fans, we see the world of sports broadcasting becoming far more interesting than it is today. Out of the pandemic, we will see new companies that have succeeded, and these new leaders will foster far more vibrant communities around live events. Gen Z will have emerged with different needs and the more popular short format of sports storytelling will continue to rise.
New exciting technologies will continue to surface in the market that better serve fans’ sports esteem. Use of avatars will be the everyday normal, by representing the digital you in the new metaverse. Fans will be able to instantly express their emotions in the moment of the game, wherever they may be in the world, empowering fans to communicate in ways that are difficult to accomplish in today’s world.
The future of live sport is an exciting one; by embracing gaming technologies OZ Sports will continue to innovate at this intersection. Sports broadcasting as we currently know it is about to change forever, and we’re excited to be at the forefront of that transformation!
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: Sports and Gaming – Playing by a New Set of Rules
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SoftGamings Wins “Best Platform Provider” Award at SiGMA Central Europe 2025 in Rome
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SoftGamings has been awarded the Best Platform Provider at the SiGMA Central Europe 2025 ceremony held in Rome. The award recognizes the company’s outstanding achievements in platform development, technical excellence, and continuous contribution to the growth of the global iGaming industry.
The recognition highlights SoftGamings’ commitment to delivering robust, scalable, and feature-rich platform solutions that empower operators to build successful online casino and sportsbook businesses. Through its unified API, the company offers seamless access to more than 300 licensed game providers, 150+ payment systems, and complete licensing and compliance support across multiple jurisdictions.
The SiGMA Awards are among the most respected distinctions in the gaming industry, celebrating innovation and quality among the leading companies worldwide.
Winning in the Platform Provider category underlines SoftGamings’ role as a trusted technology partner for operators looking to launch and scale their projects efficiently.
SoftGamings continues to set industry standards with its forward-looking approach, reliable infrastructure, and dedication to supporting clients through every stage of their iGaming journey.
The post SoftGamings Wins “Best Platform Provider” Award at SiGMA Central Europe 2025 in Rome appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Presenting Industry Trends and Celebrating 100 Brands: SOFTSWISS Shines at SiGMA Central Europe
Reading Time: 2 minutes
SOFTSWISS, a global tech leader in iGaming solutions, has wrapped up a remarkable showcase at SiGMA Central Europe 2025. From the launch of the 2026 iGaming Trends Report to the live-built Alfa Romeo 4C handover, the company once again demonstrated why it stands as the industry’s leading technology provider and creative pioneer.
One of the main highlights of the event was the official release of the 2026 iGaming Trends Report. The fourth edition offers a data-driven overview of the macro- and microtrends shaping the future of iGaming – from the industrialisation of AI to regulatory shifts, cybersecurity evolution, and the rise of brand trust.
To mark the launch, SOFTSWISS hosted the 2026 iGaming Trends Marathon, a four-hour live event featuring global thought leaders. In the opening panel discussion, Ivan Montik, Founder of SOFTSWISS, Heathcliff Farrugia, COO of SiGMA, and Pierre Lindh, CEO of NEXT.io, arranged the ‘Ultimate Forecast Duel,’ exploring which trends will define the industry’s next chapter.
Another key moment was the Alfa Romeo 4C gifting, organised to celebrate the launch of the 100th brand powered by SOFTSWISS software in 2025. The sports car, assembled live during the expo at the SOFTSWISS stand, became a symbol of the company’s engineering precision and team spirit.
During a special ceremony, Ivan Montik handed over the keys to one of SOFTSWISS’ valued partners, Lottu, represented by Hugo Baungartner, Chief Business Officer, marking another milestone in a long-standing partnership based on trust and shared success.
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 36,700 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 Presenting Industry Trends and Celebrating 100 Brands: SOFTSWISS Shines at SiGMA Central Europe appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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AC Sparta Praha Becomes the Second Club Globally to Receive the Access Champions Certificate
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The certification recognises AC Sparta Praha and Betano’s joint efforts in turning the epet ARENA into a more accessible stadium and creating inclusive matchday experiences for all fans.
AC Sparta Praha has received the Access Champions certificate from AccessibAll, the international organisation that evaluates accessibility standards in football stadiums. Betano, AC Sparta Praha’s main sponsor, played a key role in this distinction by funding the initial accessibility report that guided the club’s improvements and helped shape its long-term inclusion strategy. This recognition makes AC Sparta Praha one of only two clubs in the world that have earned this award, following Atlético Madrid.
Before the match against Teplice, AC Sparta Praha and Betano representatives received the Access Champions certificate from the international organisation AccessibAll. The certificate recognises excellence in accessibility for fans with disabilities.
As part of the event, AC Sparta Praha and Betano presented a cheque for 500.000 CK to the non-profit organisation Znakovárna z. s., which provides Czech Sign Language interpreting for the club. Starting with the match against Teplice, AC Sparta Praha, Betano and Znakovárna will begin a long-term cooperation on creating and regularly publishing pre-match programme videos interpreted into Czech Sign Language for every home game of the first team.
“The AccessibAll award confirms that we are on the right path. We focus on concrete steps that bring immediate benefits to our fans. We thank Betano for their support and cooperation — without it, many of these measures would not have been implemented to the extent and quality they are today. Our vision is for every fan, regardless of their needs, to feel comfortable and safe at our stadium,” said AC Sparta Praha’s CSR Manager, Irena Smetanová.
“We are glad that, together with AC Sparta Praha, we are making the football experience accessible to all fans with disabilities. We rely on practical solutions that truly make a difference in the stadium — from navigation beacons to expanded barrier-free areas and enhanced matchday services. Our ambition is for every fan to fully enjoy the game,” added Adam Srb, Marketing Manager for Betano in the Czech Republic.
In recent seasons, AC Sparta Praha, together with Betano, has implemented a number of improvements to enhance accessibility at the epet ARENA for fans with disabilities. The stadium has been equipped with audio navigation beacons for visually impaired fans. Wheelchair platforms have been expanded, with increased capacity for visiting wheelchair-using fans. The club has also adapted its digital environment to be clear and user-friendly for fans with specific needs. Since autumn, regular stadium tours have been held — for blind and visually impaired fans in odd months, and for deaf fans in even months. For blind supporters, the club provides audio descriptive commentary through individual receivers in cooperation with Livesport. The pre-match programme on the big screens now includes subtitles, and a summary of the programme is interpreted into sign language.
The Access Champions programme comprehensively assesses clubs. It covers stadium infrastructure, fan and community engagement, digital accessibility, matchday services for home and away fans with disabilities, as well as leadership and awareness in the field of inclusion.
“Access Champions certification was created with the real needs of fans in mind. We evaluate how a club thinks about accessibility, how it implements it in practice, and how it maintains high standards throughout the season. AC Sparta Praha has demonstrated a systematic and consistent approach across all areas — from infrastructure to matchday services and community engagement. This award confirms that accessibility is part of the club’s culture,” said AccessibAll CEO Olivier Jarosz.
AC Sparta Praha and Betano will continue to develop their cooperation with community organisations and international partners, expand the use of sign-language interpreting and closed captioning, continuously improve the digital environment, and strengthen matchday services. The goal is to make accessibility a permanent standard of the club environment.
The post AC Sparta Praha Becomes the Second Club Globally to Receive the Access Champions Certificate appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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