Latest News
Match Poker Online Unveils New World Cup Featuring Cash Prizes and Bragging Rights on the Line
After a successful launch earlier this year, Match Poker Online is ramping up the action even more this winter. The app is bringing the thrill of international competition to the online poker tables with the Match Poker Online World Cup. Eligible players of all levels have the chance to represent their country and play to determine the best Match Poker player in the world.
All eligible players can get in the action by competing on the app. To be eligible, players must have achieved at least one of the following by Nov. 27:
- reached an IFMP (International Federation of Match Poker) Rating of 1,200 or above
- be in the top 15% of the Ivory, Sapphire, or Emerald tiers of IFMP Ratings
- be among the top 15% of eligible players in any Premiership Season
- won a Weekly Challenge
- won a Special Event, such as the May Cup or Battle Weekend
There were 385 eligible players as of Oct. 5, but players can still qualify. Eligible players will be notified via email.
“From the start, we’ve wanted to be much more than an app, we’ve wanted to be a sport – albeit one that is played via an app,” Match Poker Online head of customer relations Jake Colman says. “Being a sport necessarily involves holding championship events, world cups, and other big events to determine the best players in the sport of poker. So this is the first time we are offering the pinnacle of our sport.”
How the World Cup Works
Each competition features Playoffs and Finals exclusive to players of the same Rating Tier. Tournament play features Match Poker Online’s new Triple Battle format, which sees players compete in one battle royale each hour for three consecutive hours. The top 36 players then advance in the Finals. The series comes after months of planning and continuous growth on the app.
“What’s been wonderful to see has been the enthusiasm from our players,” Colman says. “Each of our matches goes for 30-45 minutes, and heaps of players play 20 or so matches each week, which is a wonderful commitment of time and effort. There are some players who have played more than 100 matches a month! Adding even more players at all skill levels gets us closer to our goal of running matches almost instantaneously. Happily, we’re getting closer.”
For most players, the Playoffs are set for Dec. 3-4 with the Finals playing out on Dec. 10-11. U.S. players can compete on Dec. 2-3 with the Finals on Dec. 9-10. The winner of the Ruby division, the top competition, is crowned the overall World Cup champion. And not just bragging rights are on the line. Match Poker Online is awarding cash prizes for top players. In total, players can compete for a share of more than $2,000 and here’s a look at the payouts:
| Ranking Category | 1st Place Prize | 2nd Place Prize | 3rd Place Prize |
| Ruby | $625 | $250 | $125 |
| Ivory | $450 | $175 | $75 |
| Sapphire | $200 | $100 | $50 |
| Emerald | $100 | $50 | $25 |
* Amounts in US dollars
How Does Match Poker Online Work?
Match Poker Online truly gauges where a player stands by having competitors play the same hands across the platform. Players can work on their skills by comparing their own play and decisions to others around the world who have played exactly the same hand.
The app is packed with features, statistics, excellent graphics, and exciting gameplay. You can even compare your own play against friends in a fantasy sports-style competition. There’s no longer a need for arguing or debate on which players are better based on conjecture and insufficient data. With Match Poker, all that data is available for players to check out.
When playing, you’re not just competing against the players at your table, but against players seated at other tables in the same seat you are. All players in that seat are dealt the same two “hole” cards and see the same flop, turn, and river. It’s a unique twist on traditional poker.
Even More to Come
Beyond the World Cup, Match Poker Online developers are working to bring players even more in the weeks ahead. More analytics should be coming soon, substantially increasing from two key statistics to 12. Players will see a massive increase in how they can gauge their own play.
“We’re going to start analyzing everything from how often you make it to showdown, win at showdown, three-bet or fold to a three-bet, continuation bet, or move all in,” Colman says. “Each statistic tells the player where they are, and where they should be.”
Also in the works for 2023 are country-specific events. This feature will then expand to allow anyone to create a club and host their own competitions. Players can battle it out with others like they’re playing in a club competition or round-robin tournament. The moves come as Match Poker Online continues to “sportify” poker. The World Cup and these other additional offerings only add to these efforts.
“Even though it’s played in an app, Match Poker is a sport,” Colman says. “We’re working hard to see it become as widespread as basketball, tennis, or chess, with communities in every part of the world, at every level – from suburban leagues to national titles. The World Cup is the most important step forward we’ve ever taken in getting there.”
Player Reactions
After more than nine months in operation, players have been pleased with the game. Here’s a look at what a few players had to say:
- As a former professional poker player I am super excited by your project, I truly believe that we need to rethink poker and show it as a skill game rather than gambling. – “Cukrapok”, France
- Let me congratulate you on the best poker app ever developed. – “Fairbank”, USA
- I want to thank you for a great way to play poker and your game is so fantastic. I no longer play in other places. Great job! – “Stinger”, USA
- Loving the game, awesome concept.👌🏼I have deleted all other poker apps from my phone. – “Rendog”, Australia
- You’ve made something truly fun, unique, and innovative and I look forward to what the future brings🙂. – “RedBacon”, Israel
Latest News
ComeOn Group unveils new live casino innovation with industry-first 7-seat Blackjack tables for its branded Nordic Ruby Lounge
ComeOn Group is excited to announce a groundbreaking addition to its Nordic Ruby Lounge portfolio: the launch of the industry’s first dedicated 7-Seat live casino Bet Stacker Blackjack.
Together with partner Evolution, this innovative live casino experience reinforces ComeOn Group’s commitment to delivering premium, player-centric gaming to its audience. Bet Stacker Blackjack joins an already solid lineup in the Nordic Ruby Lounge, which includes Native-Speaking Swedish Classic Blackjack and Free Bet Blackjack, further enhancing the diverse and immersive options available to players.
Greg Kett, Director of Casino at ComeOn Group, said: “The launch of Bet Stacker Blackjack marks another milestone in our mission to bring innovative and high-quality gaming experiences to our players. We are proud to continuously push the boundaries of live casino entertainment and set new industry standards.”
The Nordic Ruby Lounge is part of ComeOn Group’s prestigious Ruby Lounge portfolio, which debuted in early 2022 with a strong commitment to premium, safe, and exclusive entertainment. Designed as a “brand within a brand”, the Ruby Lounge live casino studio delivers an immersive experience, featuring expertly hosted Blackjack and Roulette tables by ComeOn’s dedicated live dealers.
With its tailored and personalised approach, the Nordic Ruby Lounge stands out as a truly one-of-a-kind live casino offering, setting new benchmarks in the industry. As live casino gaming remains a strategic focus for ComeOn Group, the launch of Nordic Ruby Lounge marks a significant milestone in the company’s ongoing growth and innovation efforts.
The post ComeOn Group unveils new live casino innovation with industry-first 7-seat Blackjack tables for its branded Nordic Ruby Lounge appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Shochiku Ventures, the CVC arm of Shochiku Group, a cornerstone of Japanese entertainment for over 125 years, is launching the Shochiku Game Accelerator 2025, which will offer startups up to $100,000 USD.
The accelerator’s funding is available to startups providing game-enhancing technologies such as middleware, SaaS, and infrastructure. This funding is not for game development itself but for services that improve existing games.
Building on Shochiku’s recent indie game publishing success (e.g., MiSide – 80,000+ Overwhelmingly Positive Steam reviews), the program focuses on Proof of Concept (PoC) development, leveraging Shochiku’s existing game titles. Selected companies will receive funding, a trip to Tokyo, and access to top Japanese VCs, publishers, and partners.
Key Details:
- Funding: Up to $100,000 (USD) per selected company (non-equity)
- Focus: Game-enhancing technologies (middleware, SaaS, infrastructure – not game development)
- Opportunity: PoC development with Shochiku titles, Japan market entry/expansion, networking with key industry players.
- Backed By: Shochiku Ventures, part of the historic Shochiku Group.
- Application Deadline: May 19, 2025 (11:59 PM JST)
The full press lelease below:
The post Shochiku Ventures (Shochiku Group) Launches $100K Game Accelerator appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
XSOLLA RELEASES Q1 2025 REPORT ON THE FUTURE OF GLOBAL GAMING AND GAME DEVELOPMENT: ANALYSIS OF METRICS AND EMERGING TRENDS
Key Topics Include the Global Gaming Market, Mobile Monetization Trends, Player Engagement Led by Gen Z and Gen Alpha, and Rising Investments Tools and Platforms
Xsolla, a leading global video game commerce company, proudly announces the release of the Q1 2025 Edition of “The Xsolla Report: The State of Play.” This detailed report provides crucial insights, trends, and opportunities shaping the gaming landscape, empowering industry professionals to adapt and thrive in today’s rapidly changing market.
The Q1 2025 Edition focuses on the rapid growth of the global gaming market, which is expected to reach $522.5 billion in 2025 and expand at a 7.25% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), hitting $691.3 billion by 2029. The United States, poised to generate the largest revenue share for mobile games, will further solidify its position as the world’s top gaming market, contributing approximately $141 billion to the total revenue. This surge is driven mainly by the continued rise of mobile gaming, fueled by increasing smartphone adoption, advancing technology, and a more connected global market. The mobile gaming market is expected to accelerate at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.3%, with 9.9% growth projected for 2025 alone.
The report also highlights shifting player engagement trends, with Gen Z and Gen Alpha leading. These digital-native generations are redefining the gaming landscape by gravitating toward interactive, socially connected, and player-generated content. Platforms like Twitch and YouTube fuel deeper community interactions, solidifying gaming as not just entertainment but as a social and cultural force.
Technological advancements continue to shape the industry, with AI and cloud gaming at the forefront of innovation. Cloud gaming, projected to generate $25.3 billion by 2029, is breaking accessibility barriers by enabling high-performance, device-agnostic streaming. Meanwhile, AI is revolutionizing game development, optimizing workflows, and creating personalized player experiences boosting engagement and retention. As the gaming sector rapidly evolves, industry leaders such as Activision Blizzard, NVIDIA, and Microsoft are positioning themselves at the forefront of innovation, driving investment and expansion across cloud gaming, AI, and new monetization models.
“The convergence of AI and cloud gaming is revolutionizing the industry, making high-quality gaming experiences more immersive, scalable, and accessible than ever before,” said Chris Hewish, Chief Strategy Officer at Xsolla. “AI is streamlining development and enhancing player engagement, while cloud gaming is removing hardware barriers, allowing more players to connect seamlessly while providing alternative payment models like pay-as-you-go for users. This technological shift isn’t just shaping the future – it’s defining it.”
In addition to these findings, the report also highlights a defining trend shaping the industry: the democratization of game development, which is paving the way for social impact gaming. With game development tools increasingly accessible, a new generation of change makers is emerging—young creators leveraging gaming to address community challenges and drive meaningful social engagement.
The full report outlines the current trends and strategic opportunities in the global gaming market, offering invaluable insights for developers and industry stakeholders.
For more information and to access the Q1 2025 Edition of “The Xsolla Report: The State of Play,” visit: xsolla.pro/txrq125
The post XSOLLA RELEASES Q1 2025 REPORT ON THE FUTURE OF GLOBAL GAMING AND GAME DEVELOPMENT: ANALYSIS OF METRICS AND EMERGING TRENDS appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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