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A New Era of Sports: QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK IS LEADING UK DESTINATION FOR ESPORTS

Published

2 years ago

May 20, 2023

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is fast becoming the leading destination for esports in the UK, with its premier esports arena, Copper Box Arena, at the centre of this rapidly growing industry. The arena has already hosted major esports tournaments featuring popular games such as Apex Legends, League of Legends (LoL Esports), Gran Turismo, and Call of Duty, drawing in avid esports fans from all over the world.

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park welcomes esports epic League of Legends 20-day tournament at Copper Box Arena.
The leading innovation campus, Here East, on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, is now home to a thriving esports community.
The global games market has more than doubled in value from $70.6Bn in 2012 to $180.1Bn in 2021.
Hub of esports education with courses at Staffordshire University London based at Here East and College of Esports at Lee Valley VeloPark.

This month, the arena, which is operated by Better, the charitable enterprise, is working with League of Legends Esports (LoL) to host the League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational (MSI). This is one of many high-profile events taking place at the third-largest arena in London annually.

LoL Esports is the fastest growing global sport and the pinnacle of competitive gaming with more than 100 professional esport teams and over 860 players. Accessible around the globe on 30+ TV and digital platforms, it is one of the most-watched forms of sports entertainment globally.

The 7,500 seater arena’s flexibility enables it to accommodate the diverse event set-ups different esports events require from a full auditorium, to accommodating event and expo combined, from end stage to centre stage to projection onto the field of play itself.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:

“It’s clear that Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is a global leader in esports. The Park is harnessing this growing industry, becoming a hub for skills training and jobs in the sector, and helping to create a better, more prosperous London for all. The eyes of the gaming world will be on the Copper Box Arena this month, as tens of thousands of visitors take part in the exciting programme of events, with millions more joining in online.”

Lyn Garner, Chief Executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation, said:

“Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has become a leading destination for esports in the UK. The Copper Box Arena is the perfect venue to host these global spectaculars playing to an audience of millions around the world. With many events choosing to return year after year, the Arena has established itself as the capital’s prime esports venue.

“This phenomena is about much more than the events, with courses for people wanting to develop their skills and a growing cluster of businesses offering a career in the sector. We are creating an ecluster that benefits the London and UK economy as well as having a reputation as a world leader in this high-tech, fast moving industry.”

It also marks two years since the publication of a landmark report by Here East and supported by the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) which outlined a roadmap to create a world-class esports cluster that will drive job creation and bring an industry worth $180bn globally to east London. The innovation campus, based in the heart of East London, has been instrumental in promoting the sector and positioning the park as a hub for this rapidly growing industry.

The campus is home to a world leading production, broadcast, tournament, and program design hub, specifically serving the global esports community. As well as Staffordshire University London who are offering undergraduate degrees in digital courses, centered on the gaming and computer sectors. Lee Valley VeloPark, home to the College of esports, is also a key part of the growing esports cluster in the park, providing state-of-the-art facilities for esports athletes and enthusiasts.

Gavin Poole, CEO of Here East, said:

“We are proud that Here East is playing a fundamental role in shaping how the next generation of talent learn about esports, gaming and the industries of the future. Alongside our partners and the businesses and academia based on campus, we are truly realizing East London’s potential to establish a globally significant urban testbed delivering on ideas that are going to power the future economies.”

Miles Eady, Commercial Events Manager at Copper Box Arena, said:

“I am excited to see the rise of esports on Queen Elizabeth Olympics Park and hugely proud to be part of the emergence of Copper Box Arena as the UK’s premier esports venue. The convergence of traditional sports and gaming creates a dynamic and inclusive space for all to come together and compete at the highest level.”

Esports has garnered immense popularity, with viewership for events rivalling that of traditional sports, and the park is at the forefront of embracing this global phenomenon. As esports continues to capture the hearts of many, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is positioning itself as a leading destination for esports in the UK, offering a dynamic and cutting-edge environment for esports tournaments, athletes, and fans alike.

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FC Bayern and Betano Sign Partnership Agreement

Published

2 hours ago

July 3, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Premium Online Sports Betting and Gaming Brand Betano Joins Forces with Football Giant FC Bayern in a Landmark Three-Year Agreement

FC Bayern, the 34-time champions of Germany and six-time champions of Europe, has entered a three-year partnership with Betano, the leading international online sports betting and gaming brand owned by Kaizen Gaming. This strategic alliance designates Betano as an Official Partner of FC Bayern starting from the 2025-26 season and extending until the 2027-28 season.

Michael Diederich, FC Bayern Executive Vice Chairman commented: “We are delighted to have Betano as a new Official Partner of FC Bayern. Betano stands out as a global market leader in its field – highly innovative and always pushing forward – qualities that we hold in high regard and also claim for ourselves. With Betano at our side we have gained another reliable partner to help us reach our growth objectives and continue to strengthen our innovative edge”.

George Daskalakis, Kaizen Gaming CEO, stated: “Today marks an exciting new chapter for Kaizen Gaming and Betano, as we proudly join forces with FC Bayern. When we first set out on our journey, we could only dream of partnering with one of the most iconic clubs in world football. They stand at the top of the game and this partnership reflects just how far we have come as a company, with Betano now recognized among the top online gaming and betting brands worldwide”.

Julio Iglesias, Kaizen Gaming Chief Commercial Officer added: “Germany has always been one of the most important markets for us, the second where Betano ever launched. Now, we are announcing our biggest partnership in the country and we double down on our commitment to creating innovative, safe and responsible gaming experiences for German fans. Of course, FC Bayern exceeds the borders of Germany, with millions of fans across the world. As Betano expands its international footprint, this partnership empowers us to connect with people globally”.

The post FC Bayern and Betano Sign Partnership Agreement appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Uncover Ancient Riches in Ra’s Relics Bonanza™ from Booming Games

Published

2 hours ago

July 3, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: < 1 minute

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Craig Asling, Director of Games at Booming Games, said “Ra’s Relics Bonanza transports players to the heart of Ancient Egypt with thrilling cascading wins, powerful multipliers, and immersive gameplay. We’re excited to offer a game that blends rich visuals with high-volatility action for an unforgettable slot experience.”

The post Uncover Ancient Riches in Ra’s Relics Bonanza™ from Booming Games appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Elantil sets new company record with super-fast AvatarUX integration

Published

2 hours ago

July 3, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Pioneering platform solutions provider smashes previous personal best by adding award-winning slot developer to the Elantil Marketplace in well under two hours

They say lightning never strikes, but Elantil continues to prove this old adage wrong by completing even speedier integrations in its online marketplace – and this month’s addition of AvatarUX Studios has smashed the company’s previous record of two hours!

An award-winning slot developer famed for its visually-striking content and unique products, AvatarUX Studios is widely known in the iGaming industry for its innovative proprietary mechanics, including the popular PopWins^TM, as well as many other engaging features like ZapReel^TM and Fortune Arrows.

Following this important strategic partnership, AvatarUX Studios’ acclaimed portfolio of content has now been added to Elantil’s Marketplace, giving the company’s customers an even wider range of gaming options to choose from – and all at cost-effective rates with terms they set themselves.

As Elantil merely facilitates the quick and easy pairing of operators with their preferred content suppliers, businesses are free to reach out to Marketplace partners directly and form their own agreements, with Elantil then wrapping things up by providing a hassle-free, one-click integration, with no revenue sharing.

In this way, operators can scale at pace and dynamically enhance the range of services they provide, while also staying in full control of their platforms and operating the way that works best for them.

John Debono, Chief Technical Officer at Elantil, said: “As speed is so often the name of the game in this industry, we’re incredibly proud to have smashed our personal best by integrating AvatarUX Studios in under two hours. With the developer’s acclaimed range of titles and award-winning mechanics now available to partners, they’ll be able to enjoy the full benefit even faster!”

Lara Falzon, CEO at AvatarUX Studios, said: “Having blazed a path in the industry with our proprietary mechanics and innovative features, we’re delighted to be able to offer our content to new operators via Elantil’s Marketplace – and the fact we completed our integration in a matter of hours shows just how quickly we’ll be able to transform their line-ups for the better.”

The post Elantil sets new company record with super-fast AvatarUX integration appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.