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Copper Box Arena, the Home of eSports, as the Positive effects of gaming are revealed in new study
Better gyms and leisure surveyed over 2,000 people in the UK, including almost 1,000 gamers, on the benefits of gaming and their perceptions of what a gamer is.
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95% underestimate the physical activity and training regimes of pro gamers.
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86% of people in the UK don’t think eSports athletes deserve the same recognition and respect as traditional athletes.
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Non-gamers get just 12 minutes more sleep per night than gamers.
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Over a third of gamers say their attention has improved since starting gaming.
Copper Box Arena on Queen Elizabeth Park in East London celebrated it’s 10 year anniversary this year and is fast becoming the home of eSports in the UK, with a new study revealing the diverse image of gamers and eSports professionals across the country, as well as a host of positive impacts associated with gaming.
The research from Better, operators of the Copper Box Arena, found that 96% of gamers report positive impacts in their day-to-day lives, with benefits including improvements to their attention span (33%), stress relief (50%), a sense of escapism (48%), and improved mental health (30%). For many, gaming allows players to connect with others online and temporarily escape the stresses of the real world, with Copper Box Arena providing a huge platform for the gaming community to share in these benefits.
Copper Box Arena is drawing in avid eSports fans from all over the world, and Stuart Hutchison, General Manager at Copper Box Arena, said: “We’re immensely proud to be part of the emergence of eSports. Copper Box Arena is rapidly becoming the home of eSports in the UK after hosting huge tournaments such as League of Legends, Apex Legends, and Call of Duty: Warzone Global Series Finals already this year.”
86% of people in the UK don’t think eSports athletes deserve the same recognition and respect as traditional athletes.
Despite the gaming industry’s rapid growth and the evident benefits of gaming, the study revealed that there is still some way to go to convince non-gamers, with many misconceptions of gaming still prevalent.
Overwhelmingly, 86% of respondents in the UK do not believe that eSports athletes deserve the same recognition and respect as traditional athletes. Furthermore, only one in five respondents viewed eSports as a legitimate form of competitive sport compared to traditional sports like football and rugby, and almost 9 in 10 Brits were unwilling to accept eSports into the Olympics.
Additionally, over half of the UK population (54%) believes gaming can cause some form of social isolation, and three in 10 feel it would encourage poor mental health. While our study showed gamers were actually spending more time outside than non-gamers, Brits still believe gaming would lead to a lack of exercise (58%), an unhealthy lifestyle (47%), and a poor diet (42%).
However, there is a glimmer of hope for eSports enthusiasts, as a quarter of Brits believe that eSports has the potential to attain the same level of popularity as traditional sports in the future, signifying potential growth amongst fans of the industry.
Commenting on the comparison, Nathan David, Head of Foundation at the College of eSports (CoEs), which offers innovative and practice-focused degrees in a range of international eSports business areas, said: “If you speak to any performance athlete, they will tell you that despite the physical aspect of sport and competition being key, the mental and psychological factors are just as important; dealing with stress and performing under pressure are two parallels often referred to.
“I think you will see an attitude change in the perception of eSports over the next 5 to 10 years or so as misconceptions and further understanding of our industry is addressed.”
Non-gamers get just 12 minutes more sleep per night than gamers.
The prevailing stereotype of gamers as isolated, sedentary individuals glued to screens has long persisted. However, the research reveals that gamers actually spend longer on average outside each day than non-gamers. With regards to sleep, over half (56%) of Brits felt gaming would encourage a lack of sleep. However, non-gamers stated they get an average of just under six and a half hours a night, compared to gamers’ six hours and 16 minutes, revealing a minuscule 12-minute difference between the two.
Nathan David said: “We always promote a healthy, balanced lifestyle that includes promoting your wellbeing socially, mentally, and physically. It is undeniable that gaming is almost entirely sedentary, but it is achievable to still be physically and mentally healthy despite playing games. Good sleep/recovery, a balanced diet, and physical activity are necessary in all forms of life, including for esports players or gamers.”
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Leading iGaming content provider Spinomenal has unwrapped its new title Majestic Santa, signalling the start of the festive season.
Spinomenal’s festive-inspired treat is a 5×3 slot that is bursting with Christmas imagery including red stockings, gingerbread men, and glistening golden bells. The reels are beautifully presented within a golden frame amongst snow-covered rooftops, softly glowing windows, candles, and lanterns. A festive, homely soundtrack wraps players snugly into the action as they look to win.
Unwrapping three Christmas wreaths will take players into the Free Spins game. Before the round begins, players spin the Wheel of Fortune to determine both the number of free spins (between 10 and 40) and the symbol that will double during the feature.
Majestic Santa’s bonus feature is triggered when three luxurious gold ribboned presents appear on screen. Players are given three spins to start, and the goal is to complete the metre by collecting Scattered winning symbols.
One segment of the metre is completed with five present symbols and players can win extra spins when they find a +1 symbol. Once the spins end there will be the final payout calculated by the final filled metre cell.
Majestic Santa also includes Stacked Wilds, where Wild symbols can land during spins to elevate the chances of a festive win. In the base game, only Double Symbols can be triggered — transforming all symbols into their double form for even greater payout potential.
Spinomenal CO-CEO, Omer Henya commented: “Majestic Santa is an ode to the magic of the holiday season. Its warming visuals and festive soundtrack perfectly complement the excitement of Stacked Wilds and Double Symbols, delivering unmistakable Christmas cheer and plenty of chances to win.”
The post Spinomenal marks the start of the holiday season with Majestic Santa appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Million Games is bringing festive mayhem to the iGaming world with the launch of Rudolph’s Gone Rogue, a fast-paced Christmas slot where Santa’s most famous reindeer takes centre stage in a runaway holiday adventure.
In this 5×3, 20-payline slot, Rudolph bolts into the night sky, dragging the rest of the herd with him and leaving a trail of chaos in his wake. Gifts, sleigh parts, and enchanted carrots scatter across the snowy reels, while the gameplay erupts with Wild Multipliers, Free Spins, and random Wild drops. With an RTP of 96.37% and a maximum win of 2,500x the bet, Rudolph’s Gone Rogue delivers a festive mix of charm, speed, and rewarding volatility.
Features that Drive the Frenzy
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Rogue Reindeer Free Spins: Triggered by 3 Rudolph Bonus symbols, the reels light up under aurora skies as reindeer charge across the screen, dropping extra Wilds and activating Wild Multipliers.
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Snowflake Wilds: Substitutes for all regular symbols to complete wins.
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Wild Multipliers: Multipliers of 2x, 5x, 10x, or 20x add explosive payout potential.
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Extra Wilds: During Free Spins, Rudolph and the herd scatter 1 or 2 extra Wilds on the same reel, creating chaotic, high-energy gameplay.
“Rudolph’s Gone Rogue is all about capturing the wild side of Christmas,” said Thomas Nimstad, CEO of Million Games. “It’s playful, fast, and packed with features that keep players on edge with every spin. We wanted to create a holiday slot that feels unpredictable and fun while still delivering strong replay value for operators.”
With its bold design, electrifying Free Spins, and chaotic mechanics, Rudolph’s Gone Rogue offers a unique seasonal addition to operator lobbies, built to capture attention and drive engagement throughout the holidays.
Rudolph’s Gone Rogue is now available across all Million Games partner platforms.
The post Million Games Launches Rudolph’s Gone Rogue – A Frenzied Christmas Slot of Wild Wins appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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ThrillTech makes three additions to senior team to accelerate ‘explosive’ growth
– VP of Growth, Global Sales Director and Head of Technical Compliance recruited
– Additions bring experience from Evolution, Pragmatic Play and Kiron
– Jackpot provider aiming to build on momentum after breakout year
ThrillTech, the global leader in side-bet jackpot technology for iGaming operators and game studios, has strengthened its senior team as it looks to build on a period of “explosive” growth.
Xavier Besseau has been appointed VP of Growth, making the switch from Kiron Interactive. Xavier has more than a decade of experience in iGaming, with previous roles at Sportradar, TrueLayer and Gaming Innovation Group.
Nemanja Grujicic has also joined the commercial team as ThrillTech’s Global Sales Director. Grujicic was most recently head of account management at slots provider Popiplay and was previously in a similar role at Pragmatic Play.
Also joining the ThrillTech team is Rocio Mata, who arrives as the new Head of Technical Compliance. Mata spent more than 10 years with Evolution, most recently as Senior Technical Compliance.
Collectively, the new arrivals bring deep expertise across commercial strategy, compliance and growth acceleration – all core pillars of ThrillTech’s next phase.
Founded in 2023, ThrillTech has enjoyed a successful 2025 and now employs 15 people, working remotely and in offices in Cyprus and Malta.
ThrillTech helps amplify player experiences while boosting GGR for partners with its unique ThrillPots and ThrillDrops products and is now licensed and certified in 10 jurisdictions.
Benjamin Bradtke, co-founder at ThrillTech, said: “A huge indicator that a company is doing well is its ability to attract and retain the brightest minds in the industry, and I am so pleased to say that the three new hires we’ve welcomed across Q4 are an incredible asset to ThrillTech.
“This has been a genuine breakout year for us. We’ve seen explosive growth across our product lines, expanded into new jurisdictions and secured partnerships with operators who are embracing a more creative approach to jackpots and player engagement.
“Bringing Xavier, Nemanja and Rocio into the business now is very deliberate – they’re here to help us accelerate that momentum through the final stretch of 2025 and propel us into an even stronger 2026.”
The post ThrillTech makes three additions to senior team to accelerate ‘explosive’ growth appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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