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“Dream big and respect other people”: the French football star and UEFA ambassador Eric Abidal gives Football for Friendship Young Journalist an exclusive interview

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The former French international and two-time winner of the Champions League with FC Barcelona supports the Gazprom International Children’s Social Programme Football for Friendship (F4F) in his capacity as a UEFA ambassador. As part of the Good News Show, he answered the questions of the 15-year-old F4F Young Journalist Irintsoa Rakotomamonjy from Madagascar.

Today, Eric Abidal is a football manager. He told the Young Journalist that the most emotional moment of his career had been his return to his team after an operation following a cancer diagnosis in March 2011. With his children’s cancer charity, which he founded in 2015, he wanted to make a contribution to the fight against this illness. And it was his dream to conquer cancer completely. He added that during the corona pandemic his charity – and also that of his wife – had tried, in spite of the lockdown, to stay in touch with the children it supports, and had visited them in hospital and brought them small gifts.

When Irintsoa told him that boys and girls in the F4F programme played in a team with equal rights, Eric Abidal replied that women’s football had already made enormous progress and was continuing to grow. He was convinced that women are showing the world that they can develop similar abilities to those of men. He predicted that women’s football would have become a global sport in 10 years’ time.

For him, it was very important to experience the emotionality of football on the playing field. But in sport too digitisation was gaining ground. He thought that in 10 years’ time e-sport would be the number one sport. Irintsoa explained that, in the case of F4F, the Championships in 2020 and 2021 were contested in a digital format.

The Young Journalist went on to tell her famous interview partner that the participants in F4F shared the programme’s Nine Values: friendship, equality, fairness, health, peace, devotion, victory, traditions and honour. When asked which value was the most important for him, Eric Abidal said it was friendship. For him, this included a good relationship with everyone, teamwork, and respect for others.

As a successful footballer, his advice to young people who are striving for a career in sport was, above all, to respect other people, their parents, their teachers, their trainers and their friends. And they should have big dreams, which of course they would have to work hard to achieve. To see the interview, please click on the following link: https://youtu.be/GhLvsy_tQbQ.

Following the ZOOM-interview with the Young Journalist from the F4F Press Centre, Eric Abidal held a short football training session with the 13-year-old F4F 2021 participant from Belgium Elias Ali Mohamad. After a short warm-up phase, Abidal showed his young training partner a few tricks and encouraged him to practise them with him. This episode can be viewed by clicking on the following video link: https://youtu.be/bsK04TU0ZV8.

Before Eric Abidal, the UEFA ambassadors Luis Garcia from Spain, Kelly Smith from England and Robert Pirès from France had already taken part in #STADIUMISWHEREIAM and had spoken on the Good News Show with the Young Journalist about Football for Friendship, their life and their career.

As part of #STADIUMISWHEREIAM, the following sports stars also showed what they can do: Anton Pawlinow, two-time freestyle world champion from Russia, Andreas Cetkovic, French freestyle football champion with the S3 Freestyle Crew, and the six-time freestyle world champion Mélody Donchet.

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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HIGHLIGHT GAMES LIVE IN ROMANIA WITH FORTUNA ENTERTAINMENT GROUP

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London-based video virtuals and instant win games specialist Highlight Games Limited today announces that its flagship soccer products are now live online in Romania with the Fortuna Entertainment Group.

Highlight’s premium SOCCERBET games which feature genuine archive footage from some of the biggest leagues and teams in football are now available to Fortuna’s online customers in Romania via its Casa Pariurilor and Fortuna Romania brands. Available iterations of the product include Italian Football featuring Serie A, Spanish Football featuring LaLiga and English Football featuring English Premier League teams.

Steven Holmes, CEO, Highlight Games said: ‘I’m delighted to see our SOCCERBET portfolio go live with FEG in Romania. This launch represents another significant milestone in our expansion across regulated European markets, and we look forward to building on our partnership with Fortuna and bringing even more compelling content to its customers in the months ahead.’

Erik Klems, Group RNG Product Manager, Fortuna Entertainment Group added: ‘We are excited to introduce Highlight Games’ SOCCERBET products to our Romanian customers. The combination of authentic archive football footage and innovative gameplay brings something genuinely fresh to the market and perfectly complements our existing portfolio. At FEG, we are committed to offering players the best and most engaging experiences available, and this partnership with Highlight Games supports that mission. We anticipate a strong reaction from players and see great potential for continued collaboration.’

 

The post HIGHLIGHT GAMES LIVE IN ROMANIA WITH FORTUNA ENTERTAINMENT GROUP appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Finland Finalises Gambling Reform Framework: Market Opening Set for 2027

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Finland is preparing to usher in a new era for its gambling industry, with a comprehensive reform that transitions the country from a state monopoly to a regulated, licensed market. According to updates received by Nordic Legal, the Administrative Committee of the Finnish Parliament has completed its report, confirming the core elements of the reform. While the legislation has yet to be formally published, it is expected to pass without further amendments.

This reform marks a significant shift in Finland’s gambling landscape and introduces a well-defined roadmap that operators and suppliers should begin preparing for now.

Key Milestones in Finland’s Gambling Market Reform

  • B2C licence application opens: March 1, 2026

  • Opening of the gambling market: July 1, 2027

  • B2B licence application opens: July 1, 2027

  • B2B licence requirement enforced: July 1, 2028

In addition to these regulatory changes, the Finnish government is reportedly exploring mechanisms for enhanced player protection. One such initiative under consideration is the introduction of loss limits that would apply across all licensed operators, signalling a strong commitment to responsible gambling.

Nordic Legal: Your Strategic Partner for Finnish Market Entry

With deep expertise in the Nordic gambling sector, Nordic Legal is uniquely positioned to assist operators navigating the Finnish licensing process. Drawing on experience in Denmark and Sweden, the firm brings regulatory insight, a streamlined methodology, and local expertise to ensure clients are well-prepared for this market transformation.

Why Choose Nordic Legal?

1. Familiarity with Your Business
For existing clients operating in Denmark or Sweden, Nordic Legal leverages its existing understanding of your organisation and technical infrastructure. This continuity accelerates the process and avoids duplication of effort.

2. Regulatory Expertise
Years of engagement with Danish and Swedish regulators allow Nordic Legal to anticipate regulatory expectations, resolve potential issues early, and smooth out the application journey.

3. Proven Nordic Methodology
Nordic Legal applies a tested framework to each licence application, including:

  • Reusing existing documentation where possible

  • Mapping technical and certification requirements in advance

  • Aligning responsible gambling strategies with Finnish standards

  • Co-managing projects through your current contact and our Helsinki team

  • Constructive engagement with regulatory authorities when needed

Finland Licence Application Package

To support a seamless entry into the Finnish market, Nordic Legal offers a comprehensive application service that includes:

  • Translation of all required documents

  • Step-by-step application guidance

  • Completion of application forms

  • Full project management

  • Direct communication with the Finnish Gambling Authority on your behalf

Operators aiming to enter the Finnish market are encouraged to begin preparations early. Nordic Legal’s package ensures that you will be ready when the application process opens in 2026.

Thinking of Entering the Finnish Market?

Whether Finland is part of your expansion strategy or you need a clearer understanding of how the new legislation affects your operations, Nordic Legal is ready to help. With expert knowledge of the requirements, the process, and the business context, we provide the guidance and support you need to move forward confidently.

For more information about our Licence Application Package or a personalised assessment of the Finnish market, please contact Nordic Legal directly.

The post Finland Finalises Gambling Reform Framework: Market Opening Set for 2027 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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NuxGame & Gamblers Connect Enter a New Partnership

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Gamblers Connect is pleased to announce a new strategic partnership with NuxGame, a premier B2B software provider specialising in API-first, modular iGaming solutions.

This collaboration is designed to significantly enhance NuxGame’s brand visibility and solidify its authority across the critical regulated and emerging markets our operator network serves. NuxGame, which has been successfully developing and expanding operator projects since 2018, offers comprehensive Turnkey Casino and Sportsbook Platforms.

The company’s technical strength is unmatched, featuring a massive aggregated content library of over 16,500 games from more than 130 studios, alongside advanced, market-specific tools like its Telegram Casino Software and specialised Sweepstakes Casino Platform.

Gamblers Connect will showcase how NuxGame’s modular, API-first architecture allows clients to quickly launch a fully branded platform, easily scale into complex verticals like crypto, and benefit from full compliance support, including their Romanian Class II B2B Licence and GLI-19 Certification.

By offering transparency around risk management and a comprehensive support system, Gamblers Connect will de-risk the initial onboarding process for operators.

This strategic alliance underscores NuxGame’s commitment to delivering technical excellence and our dedication to providing our audience with trusted, high-value industry partners.

Gjorgje Ristikj, Founder of Gamblers Connect, said: “Our partnership will leverage Gamblers Connect’s high-authority platform to connect NuxGame directly with decision-makers seeking fast, scalable, and compliant software solutions. Our cooperation will focus on delivering expert content and deep technical insights into the platform’s core advantages.”

The post NuxGame & Gamblers Connect Enter a New Partnership appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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