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Exclusive interview with GAMING1: “Our online operations in Belgium have grown beyond all expectations”

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Exclusive interview with GAMING1: “Our online operations in Belgium have grown beyond all expectations”
Exclusive interview with GAMING1: “Our online operations in Belgium have grown beyond all expectations”Reading Time: 3 minutes

 

Belgian omni-channel expert GAMING1 has proven itself as a worthy partner during the pandemic, especially when it comes to transitioning operators’ offline operations to online. We sat down with Sylvain Boniver, COO and co-founder to talk through GAMING1’s market outlook for Europe over the coming months – this one’s not to be missed!

GAMING1’s services were certainly in demand during 2020 as land-based operators sought to establish their presence online – can you give us a quick snapshot of what that’s looked like? 

The outbreak of Covid-19 has accelerated the transition online for most businesses, and that includes the gambling industry. For us, helping partners navigate the unprecedented circumstances caused by the pandemic was priority number one.

Lockdown restrictions forced land-based casinos to shut up shop, and even in countries where they’ve reopened, visitor numbers remain a long way off their pre-pandemic levels. The longer outlets wait to go digital, the greater the loss of their market share – it really is that simple.

Fortunately, our model is designed to help facilitate that shift, allowing players to continue using their favourite brand in an online format. We help retail and land-based partners digitise their operations – a service which, for many, is urgently necessitated by the current situation, and we’re here to deliver.

How has the last year changed the European landscape? Comparing to the way the market looked last January, how much would say has shifted in terms of growth and expectations?

The widespread closure of land-based establishments has underlined the imperative for operators to expand their digital activities. Our partners have enjoyed tremendous success when it comes to re-directing offline customers online, thereby curbing the financial impact of the pandemic.

Self-evidently, operators without an online outlet are struggling to succeed right now. Those who have a synergised land-based and digital offering, on the other hand, are much better equipped to weather the storm that is sweeping the global economy. For those in the former category, our company is ready and waiting to help deliver an omnichannel experience to their players.

Where has growth been particularly strong for GAMING1 on the continent? Where should our readers be looking at for potential expansion?

Our online operations in Belgium have grown beyond expectations. Of course, that can partially be attributed to the Covid-induced shift of all land-based activities to the online sphere. But it also reflects the sky-high quality of our digital products, and the operational efficiency of which we are so proud.

In addition, our status as a Portuguese market-leader remains undisputed, with valued local partners Estoril continuing to grow at an impressive rate. Our Iberian reach has also expanded in Spain, with 777.ES going from strength to strength by outperforming the competition – a pattern which we are confident will continue in the year to come.

Your home markets are very much across Belgium and France – do you see the current French approach to online gaming changing anytime soon?

There’s a world of difference between the two markets. Looking at regulation, in Belgium you must own a land-based casino to open a betting shop, and there is a €500 weekly deposit limit in place. Neither of those rules apply in the French market – and yet, France is still the more restrictive of the two.

French laws prohibit the existence of any private sector in the entire gambling industry, except for land-based casinos. Little wonder, then, that the country’s black market is the most significant in Europe. Regulation would not provide an overnight solution, such is the scale of the exposure of unregulated sites. It would, however, be a giant leap in the right direction – not just for France’s gambling industry, but for its players and economy too.

Looking to the year ahead, a lot’s been talked about in terms of engagement and retention, as well as acquisition of land-based players to the online world – what should operators be spending their money on to make that happen?

As a land-based operator, having the right partner by your side is paramount. That’s how to deliver a world-class digital product to players, and marketing your offering in the most effective way possible is paramount.

Beyond the cross-selling acquisition and retention tools that we’ve implemented, my strongest recommendation is to develop a 360o strategy that maximises the synergy between your different channels. Ensuring that staff genuinely buy into your vision is also critical – without them on board, even the best-planned projects won’t get very far.

Last but not least, can you give us a few insights for staying ahead this year? What’s going to be the GAMING1 approach for ensuring your partners can succeed?

We strengthened our senior management team over the course of 2020 with an impressive string of industry heavyweights. Our peerless 50-50 business model, in which we win or lose alongside our partners, continues to reap the rewards, and we’ve got an ambitious set of expansion plans in place. I’m very proud by our hard-earned reputation for excellence, and we’re all very excited for the decade ahead. This is especially the case for the growth of our existing operations in Europe and Colombia, as well as developing markets such as France and Holland. Safe to say, we’re in for another busy year!

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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Jelly, True Rippers BGMI star, speaks out against cyberbullying: calls for a safer, more respectful ecosystem

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Jelly, one of India’s leading Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) athletes, representing Infinix True Rippers, has issued an appeal to the esports community to stand against cyberbullying and threats in the esports ecosystem.

Following the BMPS 2025 Semifinals 2, where Jelly was performing with the sole goal of helping his team qualify for the grand finals, the player faced a wave of online hate, including abusive messages and death threats, all for eliminating a rival and his former team.

In a heartfelt statement, Jelly explained: “I am here to qualify just like every other team. If there is a fight against GodLike, I cannot just put my guns down and I also don’t know who is in front of me. Every team on this stage is here to play for victory. I wanted both teams to qualify, theirs and mine, but because of mistakes, neither of us made it. It is not because of one fight alone that things went wrong.”

Jelly also condemned the personal attacks he has faced and appealed for a safer esports ecosystem:

“No player deserves hate or threats for doing their job and competing. We put in countless hours to train, just like any athlete in any sport. We need to stand for fair, safe, and respectful esports, without fear of abuse.”

With esports continuing to grow as a mainstream sport in India, the need for stronger measures to protect players from cyberbullying and online harassment is more crucial than ever. Jelly emphasized that athletes, content creators, and fans deserve a positive, supportive environment to thrive.

The 24-year-old pro has pledged to use his platform to promote safe gaming practices and challenge toxic behavior within the gaming community.

Infinix True Rippers, the team Jelly represents, also extended their support to his statement, reiterating their commitment to building a culture of fairness, mental well-being, and respect in Indian esports.

 

The post Jelly, True Rippers BGMI star, speaks out against cyberbullying: calls for a safer, more respectful ecosystem appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Optimove Ignites APAC Expansion with Leading iGaming Operators Joining Platform

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Magency Life, WeClub Malaysia, and 2up.io sign on following Optimove’s regional launch

Optimove, the creator of Positionless Marketing and the #1 Player Engagement Platform in iGaming, today announced that three leading APAC iGaming operators: Magency Life, WeClub Malaysia, and 2up.io have selected Optimove as their player engagement platform. This follows the company’s formal launch of operations in Asia-Pacific and underscores its momentum in the region.

The announcement comes immediately after Optimove’s appointment of iGaming veteran Jack Wheeler to head the APAC region. Wheeler and team are driving regional growth and supporting operators in scaling player engagement strategies through data, personalization, and AI-driven orchestration.

“Our rapid adoption in the region is validation that iGaming operators in APAC are forward thinking, with a deep commitment to meaningful player engagement,” said Jack Wheeler, Senior Account Executive and Head of APAC. “Optimove’s ability to empower operators that embrace Positionless Marketing to increase marketing efficiency by 88% is ushering the APAC iGaming industry into an era where real-time marketing execution is scalable.”

Optimove’s Positionless Marketing Platform gives marketing teams the power to independently launch and optimize campaigns across channels without waiting on engineering, creatives, or analysts.

The company’s Optimove Ignite+ program, played a key role in accelerating adoption across the region. The comprehensive program is designed to accelerate growth for emerging iGaming and sports betting operators. It offers exclusive access to Optimove’s #1 Player Engagement Platform, along with expert CRM guidance, actionable insights, and proprietary industry benchmarks. Optimove Ignite+ empowers operators to enhance player engagement, improve marketing efficiency, and scale efficiently in a highly competitive market.

“These partnerships mark a major step forward in our mission to help operators across APAC build deeper, longer-lasting relationships with their players,” said Motti Colman, VP of Revenue at Optimove. “It underscores that Positionless Marketing, and its ability to free marketers to execute personalized player journeys without bottlenecks, is a key to growth in competitive markets. We’re honored to be chosen.”

With regional operators facing rising competition and evolving player expectations, Optimove provides the tools to act instantly on data, deliver personalized experiences, and drive lifetime value all from a single, AI-powered platform.

 

The post Optimove Ignites APAC Expansion with Leading iGaming Operators Joining Platform appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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PepsiCo Returns as Main Partner of the Esports World Cup 2025

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PepsiCo brings back Pepsi and introduces Mountain Dew, energising the global gaming community at the world’s largest esports event.

The Esports World Cup Foundation (“EWCF”) today announced its renewed partnership with PepsiCo, establishing Pepsi and Mountain Dew as Main Partners of the Esports World Cup 2025, set to take place this summer in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. With Pepsi and Mountain Dew joining the EWC, both iconic beverages will fuel and energize the worldwide gaming community.

The renewed partnership marks the continued expansion of PepsiCo’s footprint in gaming and a bold step forward in delivering world-class experiences to fans in Riyadh and around the globe.

Following its debut as a Founding Partner in 2024, Pepsi returns to the Esports World Cup with an expanded presence across the 2025 festival. Activations will include immersive fan zones, large-scale product sampling, and co-branded content with artists, creators, and players.

Mountain Dew, joining as a Main Partner for the first time, is levelling up players’ game in EWC 2025 to EWC 2025. A long-standing supporter of gaming, the brand will deliver immersive on-site experiences, exclusive merchandise drops, and branded competitions that resonate from grassroots to pro. With a digital-first campaign themed “Dew levels up your game,” Mountain Dew will activate across KSA social channels, broadcast, and festival touchpoints — reinforcing its ambition to lead in gaming culture and power the next generation of players.

Both brands will feature prominently throughout the event — from the Opening Ceremony to hospitality areas — with branded fridges and product placement across esports venues, the Players’ Lounge, and festival grounds, uniting music, gaming, and entertainment to deliver high-energy fan experiences.

Mohammed Al Nimer, Chief Commercial Officer at Esports World Cup Foundation, said: “We’re excited to have Pepsi and Mountain Dew back as Main Partners for the second year. These are brands that truly get gaming and its fans. With their support, this year’s Esports World Cup will be an even bigger celebration of community and creativity”

Returning to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 7 to August 24, 2025, the Esports World Cup will unite global gaming communities for a celebration of esports culture. With 25 tournaments across 24 games, 2,000 elite players, and 200 Clubs from over 100 countries, the EWC will feature the largest prize pool in esports history, over $70 million. Fans can expect exclusive experiences, from high-stakes competition to live music, anime cafes, retro arcades, cosplay, and more, drawing millions of fans online and in person.

To learn more about EWC, visit esportsworldcup.com and follow Esports World Cup Foundation on LinkedIn.

 

The post PepsiCo Returns as Main Partner of the Esports World Cup 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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