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The boom of virtual gaming tournaments
The global gaming industry is undergoing rapid change and is seeing significant growth year on year. It is currently worth around £116 billion, and it is expected to grow by a Compound Annual Growth Rate percentage of 12.9% between now and the year 2027.
There are a number of key factors that are driving this, including the availability and advancement of technology. Both the hardware and software of games consoles, computers and gaming accessories are improving greatly in terms of efficiency, innovation and usability.
Increased access to internet services with decent connection and speed has also influenced this, as well as the relatively new development of influencer marketing through streaming platforms. Of course, it is also undeniable that recent global events have meant that people have had to spend more time at home social distancing and have found themselves playing more games. Gaming has provided entertainment and social engagement to people who may have been too busy to play regularly before. There are game types to suit everybody, from action and adventure games to strategy and puzzle games. All gaming sectors have seen an increase of gameplay during this period and one in particular is the casino industry. In the last several months, many people have signed up to one of many casino sites to play their favourite games like blackjack and poker. The increase of players has been forced by the closure of land-based casinos meaning people had to move online to access casino games. And it was not just normal casino games that had to take place online, many large gambling events like the World Series of Poker tournament also had to move online due to the recent pandemic. Many events and competitions were already taking place virtually, however this year has seen more events than ever make the transition online, is this phenomenon going to stay?
Virtual Competitions
There has also been a boom in virtual gaming tournaments, or esports tournaments, during this time. The number of tournaments has skyrocketed in comparison to previous years, so too has the audience numbers on streaming sites such as Twitch and YouTube. As conventional tournaments across the sports and entertainment industries have faced cancellations or postponements, virtual competitions have acted as their replacements.
There are three main types of esports that are run as virtual gaming competitions. One is first person shooters (FPSs), these can be player v player or team games, with popular examples including Call of Duty, Doom and Counter-Strike. There are also fighter gaming competitions, such as those held for Super Smash Bros or Street Fighter. However, some of the most anticipated tournaments are those in the Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) category, with League of Legends and DOTA 2 being the big names in this area.
Many players participate in these events due to their financial incentives. Large corporations sponsoring these events draw in professional players with the promise of huge cash prizes. Pros train for these events all year round, gaming to them is a career choice as they fund their passion through prize winning and sponsorship deals scored through their streaming channels. DOTA 2 is by far one of the biggest tournaments in terms of the amount of prize money it gives out. Since the game was released in 2013, there have been 54 tournaments and the average prize has been a hefty sum of $111,111 US dollars. This year’s prize money hase totalled $6 million.
Replacing Sporting Events
Virtual gaming tournaments this year have acted as a good replacement for some of the major sporting events.
After F1 was forced to postpone earlier this year, Torque Esports’ All-Star Esport Battle took over in March. Racers from a variety of motorsports joined in on the action, including the legendary Max Verstappen. Verstappen found victory at the Redline’s Real Racers Never Quit competition series when he won the first qualifier, however the final saw Rudy Van Buren take home the top prize after he dropped out. Van Buren actually holds the title of ‘World’s Fastest Gamer’ in 2017.
There was also the virtual Formula One Grand Prix which attracted both pro gamers and champion F1 stars. This was the second time the event ran and this year it was based on Albert Park circuit in Melbourne. Competitors included Ben Stokes, an England cricketer, and racing driver Alex Albon. The trophy was won by two time Grand Prix winner Charles Leclerc.
Another high-profile esports tournament was the Fortnite World Cup. In the summer of 2019, the Fortnite finals were streamed across Twitch, Youtube, Twitter, Facebook and within the game itself. Weekly online tournaments started in April, with players from each region competing to qualify for the finals and be in for a chance of winning a cut of the $1,000,000 prize pool. The overall winner was 16 year old Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf, who lifted the trophy at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. This year however, Epic Games have had to put a stop to the World Cup this year due to the cross-region nature of the event. They instead moved all over competitions exclusively online this year, including the Fortnite Champion Series and the Fortnite Cash Cups.
Virtual Gaming Industry is Growing
At the rate that the virtual gaming industry is growing, in the future we may see the same kind of media coverage and attention for these tournaments as we do some of the major traditional sports competitions. Huge audiences already enjoy watching these events via live streams, and many also place bets too. As stadium events around the world continue to be cancelled and postponed, virtual gaming tournaments are continuing to become a more mainstream form of entertainment for fans of competitive sports.
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: The boom of virtual gaming tournaments
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SYNOT HAS BEEN GRANTED LICENSE FOR THE BULGARIAN MARKET
SYNOT Group has been granted a 10-year license for production, distribution and technical support within the Bulgarian market. This significant step is part of SYNOT’s further expansion in the Balkan region, where the company plans to make its most successful products available to new customers.
“We are really happy with obtaining the license for the Bulgarian market“, said Stanislav Stanev, International Business Development Director of SYNOT Group. „Like this we can continue with our expansion plans within the Balkan region and make available our most successful products for the Bulgarian customers as well. The license is coming just on time for the upcoming BEGE expo in Sofia, where we are expecting to meet most of the local operators and have some fruitful discussions and presentations of our most successful products from both online and land-based divisions.”
For the first time ever, SYNOT Group will present its extensive product portfolio at the Balkan Entertainment and Gaming Exhibition, which will take place from 27th to 28th November at the Inter Expo Center in Sofia. We are delighted to invite all visitors to our booth 2.18 where they will have the opportunity to explore SYNOT’s advanced multigame progressive jackpot systems MAGIC BALL LINK and SUPER LINK, the state-of-the-art cabinets, such as UP2-32, Eclipse FL-32 and UP1-27 as well as the latest titles from the proven game sets. Visitors interested in online slots or comprehensive iGaming solutions should also not miss our online section.
“Participating in BEGE is a valuable opportunity for us to strengthen relationships with partners and establish new collaborations in a Balkan region that we consider strategically very important,” added Stanev.
The post SYNOT HAS BEEN GRANTED LICENSE FOR THE BULGARIAN MARKET appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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GGPoker Unveils $24M End Of Year Giveaway – Celebrate December with Over $24 Million in Prizes!
December 1 through 31 – GGPoker to say #Thanks2024 with ticket drops, daily rewards and more
GGPoker, the World’s Biggest Poker Room, is excited to announce its $24M End of Year Giveaway, an extraordinary month-long festival running from December 1 to December 31, 2024. Packed with giveaways, tournaments, and rewards, the promotion is designed to delight players of all levels and close out the year in style.
The $24M prize pool includes the following highlights:
- $1M Paradise Online Ticket Drops: Randomly distributed tournament tickets during the upcoming WSOP Paradise Online series
- $12M 12 Days of Christmas Gift Boxes: Daily rewards for players logging in from December 15 to December 26
- $1M End of Year #Thanks2024 Flipout Tournament: A fast-paced, unique event running December 27 to December 31
- $10M December Cash Game Giveaway: Monthly leaderboards and promotions across GGPoker’s popular poker variants, plus $2.5M in GGCare & GGCheers rewards and $1M in bonuses for new players joining GGPoker in December
$1M Paradise Online Ticket Drops
Players participating in WSOP Paradise Online tournaments – running December 1 through December 15 – will automatically get a shot at winning one of $1M worth of tournament tickets, which will be dropped randomly as each event plays out. These tickets can be used to access some of the most exciting tournaments in the WSOP Paradise Online series, offering a shot at major prize pools.
$12M 12 Days of Christmas Gift Boxes
From December 15 to December 26, every player who logs in will receive a daily Christmas Gift Box. These festive surprises include:
- C$ Rewards
- Tournament Tickets
- Daily $100K Freeroll Tickets
- Sit & Go Tickets
- Snow Splash Items
Unwrapping a new surprise every day ensures that the holiday season is both fun and rewarding for GGPoker players.
$1M End of Year #Thanks2024 Flipout Tournament
To wrap up the year, GGPoker will host its #Thanks2024 Flipout Tournament, running from December 27 to December 31 and open to all GGCheers and GGCares qualifiers during this time. This fast-paced, unique format automatically pushes every player all-in each hand, creating an adrenaline-fueled path to big prizes. Qualifying is simple, and the players that make it through to Stage 3 will share in a $1M prize pool.
$10M December Cash Game Giveaway and more!
GGPoker’s popular monthly leaderboards will distribute $6.5M in prizes across multiple game variants, including:
- Rush & Cash
- Omaha
- All-In or Fold
- Short Deck Poker
Another $2.5M will be awarded through the long-running GGCare & GGCheers promotions, which reward players for bad beats, coolers, and lucky moments alike. Additionally, new players joining in December can claim up to $1M in bonuses, including welcome packages and daily freerolls.
“2024 has been an incredible year, and we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate than by giving back to our players,” said Sarne Lightman, Managing Director of GGPoker. “With over $24M in prizes, including tournament tickets, cash giveaways, and festive rewards, the End of Year Giveaway ensures that every player, whether they’re seasoned grinders or just starting out, has the chance to finish the year on a high note. It’s our way of saying thank you and welcoming even more players to the GGPoker family!”
For full details about the $24M End of Year Giveaway, including terms and conditions, please visit: ggpoker.com/promotions/2024-end-of-year-giveaway/
The post GGPoker Unveils $24M End Of Year Giveaway – Celebrate December with Over $24 Million in Prizes! appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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GIANTX announces its Valorant team for 2025
Westside, Runner, and Tomaszy join Purp0 and Cloud to aim for a return to the top of one of the most prestigious international esports competitions
The global esports organization GIANTX has unveiled its new Valorant team for the 2025 Valorant Champions Tour (VCT). The primary goal is to qualify for the Valorant Champions, the world championship that will take place in Paris, after an uneven 2024 season.
The roster includes Cloud, Purp0, Westside, Runner, and Tomaszy. Cloud and Purp0 remain with the organization, while Westside, Runner, and Tomaszy are new additions.
- Cloud will take on the role of in-game leader (IGL).
- Purp0 will continue to bring his ability to perform in key situations.
- Westside joins from Diamant Esports and makes his debut at the highest level.
- Runner, previously with Team Vitality, played in the 2024 world championship.
- Tomaszy, formerly of Rebels Gaming and Karmine Corp, also joins the project.
The coaching staff will be led by Pipson, with Waylander as assistant coach. Both bring extensive experience from the competitive scenes of Valorant and Counter-Strike.
The EMEA region will feature 12 teams in the 2025 VCT:
- GIANTX,
- Fnatic,
- Natus Vincere,
- Team Liquid,
- KOI,
- Team Heretics,
- Apeks,
- BBL Esports,
- FUT Esports,
- Gentle Mates,
- Karmine Corp,
- and Team Vitality.
The official competition kicks off in January with the Kickoff Tournament, where teams will compete for a spot at the first international event of the year: Masters Bangkok.
This weekend, GIANTX will participate in the preseason tournament Intel Monsters Reloaded 2024 in Istanbul.
Their first opponent will be Team Liquid on Saturday at 6:00 PM. If they win, they will face the winner of the match between BBL Esports and SuperMassive in the final.
The post GIANTX announces its Valorant team for 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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