BLAST, Live Nation, C3 Presents and the Austin Sports Commission announced that tickets for the highly-anticipated Counter-Strike Austin Major sold out within six hours, breaking all records of previous BLAST esports events. 

The BLAST.tv Austin Major will feature 32 of the world’s top Counter-Strike teams competing for a $1.25 million prize pool, from June 3 to June 22, with June 19-22 taking place at a packed out Moody Center. 

Counter-Strike is one of the world’s most iconic esports titles, with over 20 years of competitive history and a massive global fan base. As the first Counter-Strike Major in the U.S. since 2018, this event continues to solidify Austin’s position as a premier destination for world-leading events. Catch a glimpse of what is to be expected by viewing the last CS Major, in Paris.

The BLAST.tv Austin Major is anticipated to be one of the largest esports events ever hosted in the United States, with thousands attending in person and millions more watching online across 150+ territories in more than 30 languages.

In addition to the impressive international presence guaranteed at this event, it’s an exciting time for Texas-based esports teams like Complexity Gaming, headquartered in Frisco, Texas, to represent their home state on their home turf.

At a press conference last night at the Moody Center (livestream available on youtube) featuring remarks from Mayor Kirk Watson, Leo Matlock (BLAST), Jason Lake (Complexity Gaming), Drew Hays (Austin Sports Commission/Visit Austin) and Andrew Haworth (BLAST), the spokespeople revealed that the Austin Major will drive economic impact for the local community:

• The estimated direct economic impact of the Counter-Strike Austin Major in Austin is $30M+
• Estimated total attendance: 40,000+
• Estimated out-of-state attendance: 65%
• Estimated average daily fan spend: $481
• 15 broadcast days and 59 hours live from Austin 
• 220+ million projected views and an estimated 30 million US-based viewers 

(Credit David Brendan Hall)

The BLAST.tv Major adds to Austin’s growing reputation as a world-class event destination, joining a lineup of high-profile international events, including SXSW, Austin City Limits Music Festival, and Formula 1 at Circuit of The Americas.

The road to the Counter-Strike Austin Major has officially begun and will feature several exciting moments leading up to the final stage inside the Moody Center arena. Stay tuned for upcoming announcements including watch parties, tailgates, tickets and more by heading to BLAST.tv.

BLAST.tv Major dates and schedule: 

• Phase One: June 3rd-6th (Downtown Austin)
• Phase Two: June 7th-10th (Downtown Austin)
• Phase Three: June 12th-15th (Downtown Austin)
• Playoffs: June 19th-22nd (Moody Center)

The BLAST.tv Austin Major will be the first to feature the Major Regional Qualifiers (MRQs). The MRQs are a brand new qualifying system to the Major – featuring a series of online qualifiers across 3 regions: Europe, Americas and Asia. Americas is split into separate North American & South American qualifiers and Asia is split into Oceania, China & Rest of Asia regions: Mongolian & Western Asia, China and Oceania and South East Asia. You can read more details on the qualifying process at blast.tv/cs/news/blasttv-austin-major-mrqs-info.

Aristocrat Interactive appoints industry veteran to lead the of iGaming & Sports division and drive global expansion 

Aristocrat Interactive is pleased to announce the appointment of industry veteran Nir Hakarmeli as the new Managing Director of its iGaming & Sports division. This strategic hire underscores Aristocrat Interactive’s commitment to enhancing its digital offerings and expanding its presence in the global online gaming and sports betting markets.

In his new role at Aristocrat Interactive, Nir will lead the iGaming & Sports division, focusing on expanding the company’s portfolio with complementary products and content for both land-based and online operators in major regulated markets. His deep understanding of operator and customer needs, honed over 14 years in various B2C roles, positions him well to drive value for business customers and align offerings with their goals.

Nir expressed his enthusiasm about joining Aristocrat Interactive, stating, “What excites me most about this role is the opportunity to drive growth by delivering a diverse range of innovative offerings to operators worldwide. The chance to contribute to this growth and lead a team with the potential to become a true global leader in the coming years is incredibly motivating.”

Moti Malul, CEO of Aristocrat Interactive said “We are on an exciting journey at Aristocrat Interactive and the addition of Nir to the team showcases our commitment to our operators and partners.  With his extensive experience and knowledge, I have no doubt that that we can continue to delight our partners by taking their business not only to new levels, but to new heights.”

Nir brings over a decade of extensive experience in the gaming industry, having held key leadership positions across several prominent organizations. Most recently, he served as the International Managing Director at Evoke, where he played a pivotal role in steering the company’s international operations and growth strategies. Prior to that, Nir was the Gaming Director at William Hill, contributing significantly to the company’s gaming initiatives.

Expanse Studios, part of Golden Matrix Group Inc. (NASDAQ: GMGI), has rolled out Candy’s Bonanza, its 55th game, adding another exciting title to its growing portfolio of premium iGaming content.

A Sugary Slot Adventure with Big Wins

Candy’s Bonanza is a 5×6 cascading slot packed with colorful treats, rewarding features, and high-energy gameplay. Players can enjoy:

• ✔ 97.23% RTP – High return-to-player for extended sessions
• ✔ Bonus Buy Feature – Jump straight into free spins for bigger payouts
• ✔ Multilevel Progressive Jackpot – Unlock multiple payout tiers
• ✔ Scatter Symbols & Free Spins – Boosts engagement and winning potential

With eye-catching visuals and immersive sound design, the game offers fast-paced fun and rewarding mechanics, making it a perfect fit for social and real-money casino operators alike.

Expanse Keeps Expanding

The launch of Candy’s Bonanza comes at a time of rapid growth for Expanse Studios, which recently expanded into the U.S. sweepstakes market, where its games are now available in 40+ states. The company is also strengthening its presence in social casinos, adapting its games for sweepstakes-friendly platforms.

“Candy’s Bonanza is our 55th game, and it reflects our ongoing push for quality, innovation, and entertainment,” said Damjan Stamenkovic, CEO of Expanse Studios. “We’re excited to bring this fun, engaging slot to players worldwide, and we’re just getting started.”

With new partnerships and game releases on the horizon, Expanse Studios continues to cement itself as one of the fastest-growing content providers in iGaming.