Latest News
Hyprop partners with MTN to host South Africa’s largest national gaming tournament
R50k in prize money, eight qualifiers nationwide, culminating in one epic gaming showdown…this is the MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience 2024!
Get ready for another exhilarating display of gaming prowess, MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience is back. Now in its second year, it is the largest national mall-based gaming tournament ever held in the country. This groundbreaking event will feature a series of eight qualifier events held at Hyprop Malls across the nation over the next four months, culminating in an epic National Final taking place at Canal Walk in Cape Town this September.
Christie Stanbridge, Hyprop’s Brand and Campaigns Marketing Manager, remarked, “The goal of our national gaming tournament is to create a vehicle for making esports accessible to everyone, breaking down barriers and removing the stigma that gaming is only for a certain age group. We aim to ensure that people from all walks of life can come together to play games and participate in the thrilling world of esports.”
Jason Probert, General Manager: Digital Services at MTN South Africa, expressed his excitement about the partnership with Hyprop on this landmark tournament: “We are thrilled to partner with Hyprop to bring this tournament to life. This event is a testament to the growing gaming culture in South Africa, and we are proud to support an initiative that not only showcases incredible talent but also brings communities together through the power of gaming. MTN is committed to driving digital innovation and creating unique experiences for gamers across the country.”
What can gamers of all ages and skill levels look forward to?
The second MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience follows its immense popularity among gamers and its suitability for all ages due to the selection of EA FC 24™ as the title to be played throughout the main events. The tournament promises to be a thrilling competition and will offer a gaming experience that appeals to a wide age group, ensuring there is something for everyone, from casual players to seasoned pros with additional competitions and activations taking place at each mall event.
Get ready for the ultimate showdown! Join our electrifying online and in-centre heats and prove you’ve got what it takes to make it to the National Final. Battled out on the ACGL platform, the online heat is your ticket to glory and a coveted spot in the top four to earn a place in the Mall Finals.
Players can sign up at the various Hyprop Malls to participate in one of the seven heats held from Friday to Sunday. The top four players from each heat will move on to the Mall Final, joining the four online qualifiers.
There are a select number of mall heats dedicated to scholars this year to ensure that our esport schools are represented. Be sure to check out the respective mall website for all the details.
Somerset Mall Online Qualifier | 9-Jun |
Somerset Mall Event | 14 to 16 Jun |
Rosebank Mall Online Qualifier | 16-Jun |
Rosebank Mall Event | 21 to 23 Jun |
The Glen Online Qualifier | 23-Jun |
The Glen Event | 28 to 30 Jun |
Clearwater Mall Online Qualifier | 7-Jul |
Clearwater Mall WM Event | 12 to 14 Jul |
Woodlands Boulevard Online Qualifier | 14-Jul |
Woodlands Boulevard Event | 19 to 21 Jul |
Table Bay Mall Online Qualifier | 4-Aug |
Table Bay Mall Event | 9 to 11 Aug |
Capegate Online Qualifier | 18-Aug |
Capegate Event | 23 to 25 Aug |
Canal Walk Online Qualifier | 8-Sep |
Canal Walk Event | 11 to 15 Sep |
The events at the participating Hyprop Malls will include a variety of competitions and engaging activities, featuring not only the main MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience efootball tournament, but also a range of smaller competitions and activations. Participants and spectators alike can enjoy a dynamic gaming environment.
National Final in Cape Town:
The grand finale will take place at Canal Walk, featuring all the excitement of the Mall Events plus additional high-stakes competitions. The eight finalists from each mall will compete for the ultimate title and a share of the R50,000 prize pool:
- 1st Place: R25,000
- 2nd Place: R15,000
- 3rd Place: R7,500
- 4th Place: R2,500
Additional Competitions and Activations
Win with MTN and Battle+: MTN will host a Beat Saber competition with Xbox Series S consoles as prizes.
Beat Saber is a VR rhythm game where you slash the beats of adrenaline-pumping music as they fly towards you, surrounded by a futuristic world.
Beat Saber will be played on Battle+, MTN’s esport platform, where you can watch exclusive videos and play tournaments or compete in challenges to earn rewards. Battle+ is available on play.mtn for all MTN subscribers.
Computer Mania Pop-Up Shops: Computer Mania, a premium retailer at our malls, will host pop-up shops where you can purchase all the products on display. Shop the latest gaming gear available at great prices, exclusively available during the Shift Gaming event.
PC Gaming Zone: Compete for prizes and bragging rights in popular competitive games like Fortnite™, Rocket League, Minecraft, Flight Simulator, and Cities: Skylines II. Defeat your foes in style utilising the latest gaming tech with PCBuilder’s performance-optimised prebuilt gaming PCs. Whether you’re a first-time gamer, scholar, everyday gaming enthusiast, streamer, or professional gamer – every PCBuilder gaming PC is engineered to deliver the perfect balance of stunning visuals, lightning-fast speeds, and unrivalled gaming performance. Or build the gaming PC of your dreams with the PCBuilder custom build tool.
Keyboard Rebuild Race: Redragon has launched even more gaming keyboards in 2024! How do we celebrate much-needed gaming keyboard diversity? Join us for our hugely popular Redragon Keyboard Rebuild Race to test just how quick your fingers are. We’ll be giving away a brand new Redragon gaming keyboard daily – but only the fastest time wins!
The Toyota Gaming Engine SuperSprint (GT 7): Fastest daily lap wins a R1,000 Gift Card. An additional R5,000 Gift Card will be awarded overall to players that sign up to The Toyota Gaming Engine at MTN Shift Gaming Experiences.
Fighting Cup: Daily one-day cups for popular fighting games like Brawlhalla, Tekken, and Street Fighter 6. Prizes include R1,000 Mall Gift Cards for winners and R500 Mall Gift Cards for runners-up.
Additionally, the online and LAN Call of Duty Tournament is back, with a R60,000 prize pool to be won. The final takes place at Canal Walk in September.
Join us in celebrating the spirit of gaming across South Africa. Whether you’re a hardcore gamer or just looking for some fun, the MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience has something for everyone.
The post Hyprop partners with MTN to host South Africa’s largest national gaming tournament appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News
Soft2Bet releases TopBet.ro in Romania with a motorsport‑inspired identity tailored to local fans
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Soft2Bet has launched TopBet.ro, a new Romanian sportsbook designed to cater to local habits and preferences. Built with a clear focus on motorsport and match-day culture, the brand combines competitive odds and fast mobile journeys with an auto-themed identity that resonates with local fans.
From launch, TopBet.ro has been tuned to the way Romanians follow sport. Football and motorsport are front and centre, with timely markets, match-day boosts and content that reflects supporters’ weekly rituals. Romania’s proximity to major European circuits and easy short-haul travel make it a natural home for motorsport fans, and TopBet.ro responds with creative campaigns, themed missions and seasonal offers built around grand prix weekends. The same care is evident throughout the interface: clear navigation, quick bet placement, and a clean, mobile-first design.
Yoel Zuckerberg, Chief Product Officer at Soft2Bet, said: “With TopBet.ro, we set out to create a brand that feels Romanian from the first tap, then added MEGA missions and challenges that turn derby days and grand prix weekends into journeys people return to. What we prove on our own brands becomes the toolkit we offer partners, combining culturally tuned products with measurable engagement and the ability to scale with minimal integration effort.”
Brand representative from TopBet.ro commented: “TopBet.ro is designed for Romanian fans who want more from every match. Together with Soft2Bet, we built a platform that connects sport, competition, and rewards in a way that feels natural and exciting. Our goal is to give every player the chance to experience the game like a champion.”
Alongside sports, TopBet.ro offers a comprehensive casino lobby for quick breaks or a change of pace, featuring popular slots, live dealer tables, and sports-themed titles, all delivered in a mobile-first format with clear navigation and quick load times. The experience is powered by Soft2Bet’s performance-first platform, which delivers speed, stability, and smooth gameplay, along with responsible play tools tailored to local requirements. A key part of this is MEGA (Motivational Engineering Gaming Application), the engagement engine that turns play into progress through missions, challenges and quests that unlock rewards and keep sessions fresh.
The approach has already proved successful in Romania, where seasonal quests and local events are firm favourites among players. By turning everyday actions into clear milestones and rewards, MEGA lifts session depth and repeat visits, helping first-time players become long-term customers.
The post Soft2Bet releases TopBet.ro in Romania with a motorsport‑inspired identity tailored to local fans appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
ELA Games Casts Its Latest Spell with Witches’ Book
Reading Time: 2 minutes
ELA Games beckons players to step into a shadowy realm of sorcery and mystery with its newest release: Witches’ Book
Bathe in the magic as a powerful coven of three witches conjures their spells across the reels, revealing mysterious rewards and surprises. Each spin is a step toward ultimate strength, where massive riches and bubbling magic await.
The Power of the Book
In the Witches’ Book, magic shimmers in every spin. Players aim to collect enchanted pages and experience the power of each witch’s most mythical spells.
Once players gather enough enchanted pages, they complete the spellbook and choose their witch and symbol to unlock the magical Free Spins. As the witches’ power grows, every symbol has the chance to transform into a Jackpot, turning ordinary spins into powerful, enriching moments.
A medium volatility level and 94.9% RTP ensure that wins are frequent even on the base game. Additionally, multiple surprise features can arise and spread across the 5×3 reel format, making each spin a potion of excitement.
ELA Games’ Magical Touch
Witches’ Book is an enchanting embodiment of ELA Games’ philosophy regarding creative innovation and a focus on engaging gaming experiences. The games’ animations, sound design, and dynamic mechanics blend to create an atmospheric game that will have players a part of the incantation.
Marharyta Yerina, ELA Games’ Managing Director, commented on the release, “With Witches’ Book, our goal was to create a title that emphasises the visually-rich aesthetics that embody the atmosphere of the brooding festive season. Every feature and design element was meticulously crafted to keep players engaged and deliver value for our partners. Witches’ Book is an example of our development approach: leverage creativity to entertain players while driving meaningful performance results for operators.”
Discover Enchanting Riches Now
Players can dive into the mysterious world of magic and spells today, with powerful gameplay and immersive experiences.
Finish your incantation and cast a powerful, lucrative spell today.
The post ELA Games Casts Its Latest Spell with Witches’ Book appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
GR8 Tech’s Bet It Drives Hits the Portuguese Fast Lane with Tiago Pereira of LeBull.pt
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Lisbon’s streets set the pace for Season 2 of GR8 Tech’s Bet It Drives — the drive-time podcast where iGaming’s most interesting voices speak freely, in motion. Hosted by Yevhen Krazhan, Chief Sales Officer at GR8 Tech, each episode captures raw insight, candid stories, and the kind of energy you can only find on the road.
Episode 2 puts the spotlight on Tiago Pereira, Head of Portugal at LeBull.pt, the executive who helped turn a logo and a bull into one of the fastest-growing brands in Portugal’s regulated iGaming market. With more than 20 years in sports betting, affiliates, and casino operations at Placard.pt, Betano.pt, bet.pt, and Sportingbet, Tiago has led market entries, compliance frameworks, sponsorships, and full-funnel digital growth.
During the ride, Tiago opens up about:
- How he found his path and his journey from architecture and computer science to marketing.
- The history of LeBull.
- Portugal vs. Brazil: same language, different mindset: why copy-paste doesn’t work and true localization is key.
- The idea behind the LeBull Night Show, a weekly late-night comedy event.
- His failed marketing project.
- Trusting younger generations.
- His previous approach to marketing when he joined Betano in 2017.
- Why the Portuguese sports betting market relies on the casino vertical.
- The next chapter for affiliation.
- Network or Not Work: mascots, localization, and keeping support teams local.
- A small personal detail that’s still quietly visible online for those who know where to look.
- His Champion Rule: move forward with an “I need to get this done” mindset. Whatever happens, don’t stop. Stay consistent, keep moving forward, and the results will follow.
“Tiago showed us how to win a new market with discipline, curiosity, and the courage to keep moving forward,” said Krazhan.
Watch or listen to Season 2, Episode 2 with Tiago Pereira on:
Bet It Drives Season 2 kicked off with Rasmus Sojmark and keeps the pace with upcoming episodes featuring Kyrylo Korobka and Kelly Kehn. Buckle up. Lisbon’s just getting started.
The next chapter of iGaming belongs to those who play smart and play bold. Meet GR8 Tech at booth 5028-2 during SiGMA Central Europe 2025 in Rome, November 3–6, and discover the Heavyweight Rulebook built for operators ready to scale, localize, and win.
The post GR8 Tech’s Bet It Drives Hits the Portuguese Fast Lane with Tiago Pereira of LeBull.pt appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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