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Odds on: Unlocking the potential of AI for esports betting

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Jordan Peltier, Chief Data Officer at PandaScore, says that humans and machines must work together if businesses are to maximise the potential of AI when it comes to esports betting odds.

Artificial intelligence has been one of the most discussed industry topics over the past 12 months and it’s easy to see why. AI can be transformative for operators, suppliers and bettors, and while there are concerns around adversarial AI, when used in the right way, it’s a game-changer.

At PandaScore, AI plays a crucial role in the odds we deliver esports betting operators. This is because it is incredibly effective at handling complex, high-dimensional and unstructured data and finding patterns within it – these patterns are needed to predict the outcome of events.

This, of course, is the foundation needed for determining the odds for each market that we offer. But the power of AI goes beyond this.

It can adapt dynamically to new data which is just not possible with old statistical models like parametric distributions as they struggle to capture the non-linear relationship between variables so require additional manual engineering which takes time and resource.

But does this mean the AI machine is taking over from human trading teams? Absolutely not.

Leveraging the capabilities of AI and combining it with specialist human traders is the optimal approach because you have models that can capture the complexity of esports supported by human traders with a deep understanding of each discipline.

Odds should always be based on true probabilities and while there have been significant breakthroughs in AI – I’m talking about transformer-based models such as Large Language Models – it is still prone to making errors, especially when it comes to forecasting.

Let me explain by way of percentages. AI alone can get you 90% of the way to determining the true probability of an outcome but you need the human specialist trader to get you the final 10% of the way to perfection. And perfection is a must when it comes to odds.

Ultimately, this is what allows operators to offer high-value odds to their customers while ensuring a strong and stable margin from their esportsbook. What’s more, it only takes one small error for sharp, savvy bettors to exploit a mistake and that’s not what operators expect from their data partners.

It must be remembered that AI models are only as good as the data they feed from and still require training. Human traders help in this regard, providing a layer of security for core actions like settlement and odds checking when the model goes off market.

In some instances, the trader will have access to data the model doesn’t see of wasn’t trained on – things like a last-minute change to the player roster.

This is why our human traders are responsible for picking the tournament and market coverage that will most appeal to our operator partners, and our traders are on hand 24/7/365 to support operators in their efforts to offer a top esports betting experience to their players.

The training of AI models is crucial and again sees our trading and data science teams work together during the entire lifecycle of each AI model we build from designing the model to testing and interacting with models in production to ensure they are performing.

This is a virtuous cycle with our data scientists training the most optimal models that prove to be the easiest for our traders to manipulate. Traders also give a ton of deep and detailed feedback which our data scientists can use to improve the models.

The idea here is that the trading team has little input once the model is rolled out and often only make one input per match with the AI model then calculating all of the odds and markets. This ultimate is what powers our BetBuilder and PropBet products.

Having specialist traders for each esports discipline is also important. Each video game is like its own sport and while there are some similarities between some titles, the differences have an impact on the markets and odds offered and that’s exactly why specialist traders are a must.

Take shooter-round based game like CS2 and Valorant and MOBA games like Dota2 and LoL. With the former, there’s a lot of repetition in the gameplay which takes place round after round. This means betting markets are focus on rounds and kills for teams and players.

With MOBA games, there are objectives within the game that have a direct influence on who wins the match – things like kills, towers, nashors, inhibitors and dragons. This is complex – and doesn’t exist in traditional sports betting – and is why pricing teams must master in-game dynamics.

Again, this is something that AI can’t do on its own right now.

AI is a key pillar of our business, and we are incredibly proud of how we have used it in collaboration with our data scientists and traders to create models that deliver top odds for our operator partners and their players.

But working with AI is all about staying ahead of the game and our work is never done. This is why we continue to test, iterate, innovate and do all we can top perfect our models. This would not be possible without our incredible team which stands as a testament as to how machines and humans can work together in harmony.

The post Odds on: Unlocking the potential of AI for esports betting appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

George Miller (Gyorgy Molnar) started his career in content marketing and has started working as an Editor/Content Manager for our company in 2016. George has acquired many experiences when it comes to interviews and newsworthy content becoming Head of Content in 2017. He is responsible for the news being shared on multiple websites that are part of the European Gaming Media Network.

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Report affirms Ygam’s leading role in gambling harm prevention

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The latest Ygam impact report reiterates the integral role that the charity plays in preventing gaming and gambling harms among young people.

Between January 2024 to March 2025, Ygam trained nearly 10,000 delegates and reached and estimated 1.3 million children and young people across the UK – the highest reach figure since its inception in 2014. Recognised as the UK’s leading charity dedicated to prevention gambling harms among young people, Ygam has continued to set the standard in the sector.

The charity has significantly strengthened its focus on data, evaluation, and evidence-based practice, commissioning independent evaluations of four of its flagship programmes. These evaluations have generated robust insights into the long-term effectiveness of Ygam’s approach and are helping to shape the future of prevention education across the UK.

This report brings together a rich body of evidence, including independent evaluations, pre- and post-training feedback, and delegate testimonials – compiled to inform strategic direction and long-term effect.

Ygam’s growing prominence is reflected in its expanding reputation and influence across the youth sector. The charity continues to build strong partnerships with schools, universities, youth organisations, and community groups, ensuring its resources are embedded where they can make the greatest impact. Ygam is now working with esteemed brands including The Scouts, NSPCC, The Children’s Society, TSB Bank, Place2Be, and Barnardo’s.

The charity’s work has also been praised by Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross, who welcomed the publication of the report.

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Baroness Twycross, said:  “I welcome this report, which highlights Ygam’s vital role in educating more than one million young people on how to lead safer digital lives.

One of my key priorities as gambling minister is to strengthen protections around those most vulnerable to harmful gambling and I look forward to collaborating with Ygam in future as we continue to build a safer online space for young people.”

Helen Martin, Chief Operating Officer and Interim Chief Executive at Ygam, said: “I’m incredibly proud to present this impact report, which highlights Ygam’s leading role in the prevention field and our recognised expertise in safeguarding children and young people. Central to our success is a strong commitment to collaboration and the transformative power of partnership.

I’m delighted with the strides we’ve made in evaluating our work. While our reach figures are impressive, they represent just one facet of the significant impact we are achieving. By investing time and resources in rigorous evaluation, we ensure our programmes are not only evidence-based but also exemplify best-in-class standards and deliver lasting impact.

Our dedication to thorough evaluation, ongoing learning, and reflective practice empowers us to continually enhance our approach and meet the evolving needs of the communities we support. This commitment will continue to reinforce our position as trusted experts in the field.”

Key findings of the Impact Report 2024/2025:

  • 1,324,416 estimated young people reach through delegates trained.
  • 9,448 delegates trained in positions of care and influence over young people, including 3,762 teachers and youth workers.
  • 1 million social media impressions, marking 322% increase from 2023.
  • 97% of delegates would recommend Ygam training to a colleague.
  • 97% of delegates felt better equipped to identify and respond to gambling harms following Ygam training.
  • 50% of teachers and youth workers said they had implemented the Ygam materials in their classroom within 12 months of completing the training.
  • 2,134 volunteer leaders were reached through the Scout Association partnership, safeguarding an estimated 45,000 children and young people.
  • 50 universities visited across the UK.
  • 115,000 estimated university students reach.

This report reinforces the charity’s commitment to independent evaluation, learning, and reflection, which helps to continuously strengthen their our own portfolio and harm prevention efforts across the wider sector.

You can read Ygam’s full Impact Report 2024-5 here.

 

The post Report affirms Ygam’s leading role in gambling harm prevention appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Groove to Showcase Innovative iGaming Solutions at iGB L!VE 2025

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Groove Technologies, a leading platform and game aggregator in the iGaming industry, will be exhibiting at iGB L!VE 2025 on July 2 and 3 at London’s ExCeL. The company will present its enterprise-grade platform, featuring a portfolio of 15,000+ games from over 150 top-tier providers, alongside its latest player engagement and analytics tools.
Giusy Campo, Groove’s newly appointed Business Development Director, will lead the company’s presence at the event, focusing on forging strategic partnerships and exploring new market opportunities.

“iGB L!VE represents a pivotal moment for the industry,” said Yahale Meltzer, Co-Founder and COO of Groove Technologies. “We’re bringing our most advanced platform yet with technology designed to simplify operations while delivering exceptional player experiences. This is where the future of iGaming takes shape.”

Groove’s modular platform combines seamless integration capabilities with real-time analytics, providing operators with the tools to enhance player engagement and drive growth. The company’s infrastructure is built for high-performance scalability, ensuring reliability for partners worldwide.

Rachel Tourgeman, Head of Partnerships, added: “With Groove’s technology and entertainment ecosystem, our partners can anticipate player needs and adapt quickly to an evolving market. True progress comes from meaningful partnerships.”
Groove’s presence at the event will showcase how operators can leverage its technology to reduce time-to-market, optimise player acquisition, and maximise revenue. The company will also host exclusive meetings to discuss custom integration solutions for operators targeting emerging and mature iGaming markets.
“Our goal is to help operators stay ahead of industry trends,” concluded new Business Development Director Giusy Campo, “I’m looking forward to connecting with industry leaders in London and exploring how we can collaborate to push boundaries in iGaming.”

The post Groove to Showcase Innovative iGaming Solutions at iGB L!VE 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Midnite named principal partner of Sheffield United

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  • Midnite to be Blades’ front-of-shirt sponsor for 2025-26 season
  • Lucky season ticket holders will get VIP seat upgrade for every match thanks to Midnite
  • Midnite is among UK’s fastest-growing sportsbooks. 

Midnite, one of the UK’s fastest-growing online sportsbooks, has been named as the principal partner of Sheffield United for the 2025-26 season.

Midnite’s logo will be on the front of Blades shirts for the men’s and women’s adult first teams, training kits and adult replica shirts. It will also be displayed around Bramall Lane, on home match team sheets, the matchday programme and across the club’s social media channels.

The partnership also launches Midnite Premium Seat Upgrade. This will see two lucky season ticket holders drawn at random before each men’s home league game to enjoy a premium match experience in the prestigious Tony Currie Suite.

Midnite and Sheffield United will also collaborate to bring Blades fans closer to their club with a series of unique moments and unprecedented opportunities throughout the season.

Midnite was the official betting partner of the 2025 World Snooker Championship, held at the Crucible in Sheffield earlier this year.

Jonathan Shaw, Vice President of Growth at Midnite, said: “It’s a privilege for Midnite to become principal partner of Sheffield United for the coming season. The club has a proud history and a strong connection with its supporters and we’re committed to helping make this a memorable season for Blades fans.

“This partnership continues our efforts to grow Midnite as a challenger brand in the UK market, as we look to build our presence and offer a genuine alternative to the established tier-one operators. We’re looking forward to working with the club and its supporters throughout the season.”

Paul Fielder Head of Commercial for Sheffield United Football Club said: “We’re pleased to welcome Midnite as our principal partner for the 2025-26 season. They’ve shown a clear commitment to working with the club and its supporters and we’ve been impressed by their thoughtful and collaborative approach.

“We look forward to developing the partnership over the season and providing Blades fans with some memorable moments along the way.”

Midnite and Sheffield United’s partnership will operate in accordance with the Gambling Commission’s codes of practice.

The post Midnite named principal partner of Sheffield United appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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