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Sky Bet signs five-year title partnership extension with the English Football League
Sky Bet – part of Flutter Entertainment – has signed a record five-year partnership extension with the English Football League (EFL) that will see Sky Bet continue as the League’s title partner until the end of the 2028/29 campaign.
Building on a decade-long partnership, the new rights fee represents a 50% increase from Sky Bet, providing significant revenues for EFL Clubs and support for the League’s overriding objective to make Clubs financially sustainable across all divisions.
The deal will also see Sky Bet invest £1 million per season and £6 million in total into a Community Fund held by the EFL to be invested into communities across England and Wales where EFL Clubs are located. Sky Bet and the EFL will use the funding to deliver activity via the EFL Trust and the network of Club Community Organisations (CCOs), with the initiatives in focus to be mutually agreed by the organisations.
Having first been agreed in 2013, the partnership – one of the longest and most significant in UK professional sport – is centred around a clear Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two organisations that sets out how to deliver our joint objectives in a socially responsible way. This has always and rightly placed safer gambling at its heart, while also establishing a framework that allows us to engage the millions of EFL fans and connect them with the teams, players, and communities that they passionately support.
The MoU will continue to put the protection of children and other vulnerable individuals at its heart with both Sky Bet and the EFL making a renewed commitment to its approach in the promotion of the product.
Examples within the MoU include:
- Sky Bet will not actively market themselves or their products in family areas of club stadiums or advertise to young fans
- The EFL will dedicate a proportion of its central inventory to promote safer gambling messaging and support Sky Bet’s safer gambling campaigns
- Sky Bet will fund a player education programme across the EFL’s 72 clubs that will focus on the potential dangers of gambling and provide support and advice
Both Sky Bet and the EFL will share learnings and insight from the partnership with Government, other sports and sector stakeholders to help inform the new sports sponsorship Code of Conduct which is being developed in accordance with the Gambling Act Review White Paper’s proposals.
Flutter recently welcomed the publication of the Gambling Act Review, which we see as a significant positive moment for the UK gambling sector, raising standards and bringing the regulatory framework into the digital age.
As part of the agreement, Sky Bet will continue as Official Title Partner of the Sky Bet EFL and Sky Bet Play-Offs on a worldwide basis. Sky Bet will also have rights to award the official Manager, Player and Goal of the Month awards as well as the seasonal ‘Golden Boot’ and ‘Golden Glove’ awards in each division.
Commenting, Steve Birch, Sky Bet Chief Commercial Officer, commented: “I’m extremely proud of Sky Bet’s ongoing partnership with the EFL and delighted to have reached today’s agreement. Football is central to who we are and it’s great to be able to support the game and provide investment for Clubs across the Pyramid.
I’m particularly delighted that we can go one step further today with the announcement of our Sky Bet EFL Community Fund, seeking to make a real difference for people across England and Wales.
As the recent Sky Bet Play-Off Finals demonstrated, the EFL is going from strength to strength with packed grounds and millions watching games here in the UK and around the world.
We are absolutely committed to Safer Gambling, and I’m delighted that our partnership with the EFL shows how responsible betting and gaming operators, and sporting organisations can work together to promote safer gambling and tackle the issue of gambling harm.”
Commenting, Trevor Birch, EFL Chief Executive said: “For over a decade, Sky Bet has been a valuable partner for EFL Clubs, offering sustained investment to help Clubs navigate a volatile financial landscape and ensure fans can enjoy fantastic footballing entertainment in every corner of the country.
We have consistently seen our partnership evolve to move with the times and with community at the heart of the EFL, a new community investment fund is perfectly aligned and will help strengthen the partnership’s commitment to social responsibility.
The Government’s recent Gambling White Paper highlighted the social responsibility measures that have accompanied our partnership with Sky Bet as being an example of good practice for the wider sports sector to learn from and we will look to deepen our commitment to the promotion of safer gambling as part of this extension.
On behalf of our Clubs we thank Sky Bet for its ongoing support to English football and we look forward to seeing our much-loved competition develop yet further with the additional certainty this investment provides.”
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BMM INNOVATION GROUP ACHIEVES RECORD FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE IN 2024, ADDS 123 NEW EMPLOYEES
Company achieves highest revenue in 44-year history; expands employee base to serve emerging markets and enhance service levels
BMM Innovation Group (“BMM,” “BIG Group,” or “BIG”), a technology conglomerate focused on product compliance testing, training, and cybersecurity solutions for the global gaming industry, today announced record-breaking financial results for the fiscal year 2024. This milestone underscores the Company’s growth and commitment to innovation and service excellence.
In 2024, the BIG Group celebrated its eighth straight year of record growth, with a significant year-over-year revenue increase. The results were driven by strong demand for BMM Testlabs’ compliance testing services, the expansion of its global footprint, and growth in the Company’s BIG Cyber services and RG24seven Virtual Training business.
BIG Group Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President Martin Storm said, “Our record performance is a testament to our team’s talent and our customers’ trust. The addition of 123 new employees reflects our commitment to investing in people, innovation, and infrastructure to meet the global gaming industry’s needs.”
A Year of Growth and Investment
As part of its growth strategy, BIG expanded its global employee base by 22 percent year over year, adding new talent to support service delivery operations. The new team members, including mathematicians, testers, engineers, project managers, and quality assurance experts, will support the Company’s mission of transforming gambling industry performance.
Driving Innovation in Gaming Compliance
Through its BMM Testlabs business, BIG continues to lead in product testing and compliance by embracing emerging technologies such as AI and advanced automation. These innovations enable the Company to provide cutting-edge services that ensure the integrity, fairness, quality, and security of gaming products worldwide.
Storm added, “2024 was pivotal for BIG as we leveraged technology to set new industry standards. We look forward to growing in new markets like Brazil, UAE, Thailand, Nigeria, and Ghana, to name a few, and are now positioned to complete with GLI in all gaming markets for the first time in 23 years.”
Looking Ahead: A Focus on Cybersecurity and Responsible Gaming Training
BIG is positioned to continue growth in 2025 and beyond. BMM Testlabs will expand its global presence, enhance its technological capabilities, and strengthen partnerships with regulators, manufacturers, and operators worldwide.
For BIG Cyber services, BMM will fortify operators and suppliers with a robust suite of managed cybersecurity solutions. Through RG24seven Virtual Training, the Company will continue growing its learner base and adding new expert-led content on responsible gaming, anti-money laundering, and other important topics.
The post BMM INNOVATION GROUP ACHIEVES RECORD FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE IN 2024, ADDS 123 NEW EMPLOYEES appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Evo Awards Show Reveals Official Run of Show on Feb. 15 Dedicated to Celebrating the Fighting Game Community
Winners for the 22 categories for the Evo Awards powered by Qiddiya Gaming will be unveiled during action-packed program.
Chipotle, NACON, PlayStation Tournaments and Zenni join as presenting partners for select awards, while Red Bull, SEGA and Capcom join as partners.
Evolution Championship Series (known as Evo), unveiled additional details for its inaugural Evo Awards powered by Qiddiya Gaming on February 15 in Los Angeles. The invite-only event will honor the icons of the fighting game community and the future trailblazers and will reveal the winners across 22 categories voted by the fans, Hall of Fame inductees, and publisher reveals.
Evo Awards Run of Show (times are subject to change)
5:00 p.m. PT – The Evo Awards Pre-Show hosts Tasty Steve and Hollywood RobTV kick-off the evening that will stream live on Evo’s Twitch Channel and Evo’s YouTube Channel. Additional special guests include Maximilian Dood, Faye Mata and Evo Award Nominees.
5:15 p.m. PT – Pre-Show continues with Arcade Carpet Interviews and the Marvel vs Capcom 2 “Tournament of Champions” featuring FGC Legends Justin Wong, Michael “IFC Yipes” Mendoza, Sanford Kelly, and Duc Do and commentated by Mike Ross and GoldenBoyNeo.
6:45 p.m. PT – Pre-Show wraps up with major announcements about Evo 2025 including ticketing, hotels, special guests and more game reveals.
7:00 p.m. PT – The Evo Awards presented by Qiddiya Gaming hands out the first of 22 Awards that include Player of the Year, Match of the Year and Moment of the Year.
The Evo Awards will also see three FGC Legends – Tokido, John Choi and Alex Valle, inducted into the Evo Hall of fame.
During the show fans can expect a multitude of world premiere announcements from several of our partners, including a major announcement from Cygames for Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising. There will also be updates from Arc System Works with a world premiere announcement for their upcoming title HUNTER×HUNTER NEN×IMPACT. There will also be a world premiere announcement for UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes.
Additionally, we’ll have World Premiere announcements from SNK for FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves at the Evo Awards, with attendees able to access a demo of the game on-site. Fans tuning in can expect an exciting exhibition match featuring several fighting game champions and personalities. The Open Beta Test will be starting from Feb. 20th and running until the 24th, giving everyone a chance to get in on the action. FATAL FURY: CotW is available for preorder on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Steam and the Epic Games Store.”
Fighting game fans can look forward to Capcom promoting the upcoming Capcom Fighting Collection 2 at the event, giving fans a sneak preview of the arcade classics, including: Project Justice, Power Stone 2, Capcom vs. SNK 2 and more.
Chipotle®, who returns as presenting partner for the third year in a row for the flagship event in Las Vegas on Aug. 1-3, will also present the “Best Meme” and “Best Custom Hardware” Awards, while Zenni will present the “Best Dressed Award”. The show will also be supported by PlayStation Tournaments who will present the “They’ve Got Next” award, and NACON will present “Comeback of the Year”. To crown the unforgettable evening, the Evo Awards’ powering partner Qiddiya Gaming will honor both the Player of the Year and Moment of the Year Awards.
Additional partners for the Evo Awards include Red Bull and SEGA’s Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.
“With the Evo Awards, we are thrilled to be presenting an event acknowledging the achievements of the game community now and in the years ahead,” said Rick Thiher, General Manager of Evo. “These Awards are an opportunity for us to celebrate and inspire the passionate players, fans, publishers, and developers that make fighting games so exciting.”
The list of Evo Award Categories and Nominees are below.
Evo Awards Categories:
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Best Pop Off
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Nominees: Hayao NoahtheProdigy, Nitro, AK, Punk
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FGC Content of the Year
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Nominees: TEKKEN 8 Tutorials, Marvel vs Capcom 2 Streams, Sajam TEKKEN Slam, Will It Kill?, Trash Talk Podcast
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FGC Meme of the Year presented by Chipotle
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Nominees: The Wazzler, Hand Heart & Thumbs Up, Hayao Does The Splits, Let’s Go Gambling, Attacks IRL
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Comeback of the Year presented by NACON
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Nominees: Hayao, Arslan Ash, G_Conceptz, SonicFox, Yagami
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Match of the Year Award
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Nominees: Punk vs Big Bird, Hayao vs FrankieBFG, Xiao Hai vs Kusanagi, Nitro vs Tatuma, Arslan Ash vs ATIF
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Best On-Air Duo
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Nominees: IFCYipeS + Sajam, RIP + Tasty Steve, Sajam + Tasty Steve, Justin Wong + IFCYipeS, Vicious + Justin Wong
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Best Commentary
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Nominees: That is a Worthless Button!, This Could Be Game…And It Is, Arslan’s Gonna Do It! He’s So Close! He’s So Close, Steve!, That Could Be an Evo-Losing Anti Air, Break His Guard!
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Best Custom Hardware presented by Chipotle
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Nominees: C.O.M.B.O. Extension Buttons, Snack Box Micro, MPress Nano, Custom Claiomh Solais Arcade Stick, Haute Pad T-Series
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Best FGC Cosplay
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Nominees: Chonibu, MSValentine, Chiba Josui, Onesaya, Kryrayne
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Best Dressed presented by Zenni
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Nominees: Tasty Steve, Logan Sama, Vicious, Hollywood RobTV, IFCYipeS
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Best Button of the Year
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Nominees: Dragunov Ignition Switch (QCF+4), Luke Crouching Medium Punch, Dash Light Attack, Johnny Cage Forward 3, Ken Crouching Medium Kick
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Tech of the Year
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Nominees: Pro KO Leverless, SWORL Arcade Controller, Hit Box Ultra, Sapphire Leverless Controller, LVL Controller
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Marketing Campaign of the Year
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Nominees: Evo + SFG + TEKKEN 8, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves X Cristiano Ronaldo, 2XKO, Street Fighter 6 Season 2, ECT Commercial
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Fighting Game Release of the Year
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Nominees: TEKKEN 8, Street Fighter 6 Season 2 DLC, Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Series, Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes, Rivals of Aether II
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They’ve Got Next presented by PlayStation Tournaments
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Nominees: EnzoTheHokage, Booce, NoahtheProdigy, KingReyJr, Blaz
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Best FGC Local
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Nominees: Tatakai Tuesday, NLBC, Abou Dojo, FGC Meetups, Ozimeme
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Invitational of the Year
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Nominees: Red Bull Kumite, Sajam TEKKEN Slam, Crazy Raccoon Cup, Red Bull Golden Letters, Topanga Championship 5
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Best Online Series
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Nominees: CasaBunch, TNS Online, Saltmine League, The Kolosseum, Can Opener
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Content Creator of the Year
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Nominees: Sajam, Justin Wong, Brian_F, Broski, Diaphone
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Commentator of the Year
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Nominees: IFCYipeS, Tasty Steve, Sajam, Rynge, Vicious
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Player of the Year presented by Qiddiya Gaming
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Nominees: Punk, Arslan Ash, MenaRD, Xiao Hai, Nitro
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Moment of the Year presented by Qiddiya Gaming
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Nominees: Punk Wins Street Fighter 6 at Evo, Hayao “Moment 38”, Xiao Hai Wins Esports World Cup, Lilypichu vs Harada at Evo Showcase, MenaRD Wins His First Evo
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The post Evo Awards Show Reveals Official Run of Show on Feb. 15 Dedicated to Celebrating the Fighting Game Community appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Winpot Casino has revolutionized entertainment in Puebla with the arrival of Zitro’s CONCEPT cabinets, a global milestone in the gaming industry. Joining the cabinet line are exciting new titles like Legendary Sword, Fairyland Quest, Lucky Vault, and Triple Charm Journey.
Inspired by the medieval world, Legendary Sword offers a unique experience where players become knights, using their Magic Sword to achieve Honor and Glory. The game is played on a large 6×5 reel set, featuring combinations of mechanics like “Honor,” which multiplies prizes; “Glory,” which awards extra spins; and the “Magic Sword,” which doubles all prizes in its column.
In Fairyland Quest, players are transported to an enchanted forest. Magic Mushrooms award different bonuses, while the friendly Fairy offers a special bonus that doubles the reel set, elevating the experience.
Triple Charm Journey introduces innovative features like “Rise,” which increases prizes won on each spin until the end of the bonus; “Collect,” which accumulates the values of the Link symbols; and “Enigma,” which multiplies the value of the selected Link symbols on the screen.
Lucky Vault lets players unlock hidden prizes in three colorful vaults, awarding extra rewards in both the Base and Free Games. During Free Games, the “Multiplier” feature activates, providing Wild Multipliers, and the “Bank” feature allows players to win Mega, Super, Minor, or Mini jackpots by collecting matching symbols. Four identical Minor/Mini symbols or five identical Mega/Super symbols unlock their respective Jackpot values.
Anuar Haua, Director of Operations at Winpot, said, “Zitro’s CONCEPT cabinets are a game-changer for our players in Puebla. With their stunning graphics, sound effects, and engaging, innovative gameplay, these new games allow us to offer a unique and high-quality entertainment experience, further solidifying Winpot as a leading name in the industry.”
Johnny Ortiz Viveiros, Founder of Zitro, added, “We’re thrilled to see the CONCEPT cabinet line and our new games so well-received at Big Bola Casinos. The innovation and quality of our products keep us at the forefront of the Mexican market, and we’re confident these games will continue to captivate players.”
The post ZITRO’S CONCEPT CABINET LINE AND NEW GAMES ARRIVE AT WINPOT PUEBLA appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
BMM INNOVATION GROUP ACHIEVES RECORD FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE IN 2024, ADDS 123 NEW EMPLOYEES
Evo Awards Show Reveals Official Run of Show on Feb. 15 Dedicated to Celebrating the Fighting Game Community
ZITRO’S CONCEPT CABINET LINE AND NEW GAMES ARRIVE AT WINPOT PUEBLA
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