Latest News
Esports World Cup Foundation Announces 40 Clubs Selected for its $20M Club Partner Programme
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) announced the top 40 esports Clubs that have been accepted into the EWCF Club Partner Programme, an industry-leading initiative designed to promote the sustainable growth of esports organidations. The $20 million programme offers participating Clubs up to $1 million in funding to expand their brand and grow their global audience through innovative content and marketing campaigns leading up to and throughout the Esports World Cup 2025.
Since 2023, the EWCF has supported esports Clubs with a carefully aligned funding model that contributes to the Club Partner Programme members’ financial stability and brand growth. To achieve this, the 2025 Programme will focus on fueling global fan growth across all borders and games through impactful storytelling and creative campaigns.
Leveraging EWCF support, the 40 Partner Clubs, reaching over 300 million fans, will drive global growth by creating compelling experiences and content that deepen their connection with fans worldwide, including behind-the-scenes production, player documentaries and live fan experiences that excite their communities. The 2025 programme offers modular funding for campaigns that engage fans, tell EWC-related stories and enable Club-driven innovation.
“The EWCF Club Partner Program is a cornerstone of our mission to build a sustainable future for esports Clubs worldwide while creating opportunities for organizations from some of the world’s fastest-growing markets. This year’s 40 partnered Clubs represent a diverse and dynamic cross-section of global esports, spanning legacy organizations, rising stars and global powerhouses that collectively define the rich history and the rapidly evolving future of the industry. By investing in their growth, the program will enable Clubs to expand their audience and reach, strengthen their brands, and gain greater visibility through fan-first content, shaping the future of esports as a global sport and mainstream entertainment,” said Faisal Bin Homran, Chief Product Officer at the Esports World Cup Foundation.
With this year’s focus on high-growth regions, the 2025 EWCF Club Partner Programme represents a truly global roster, including six Clubs from China, alongside additions from rapidly expanding markets like Japan, India and LATAM. The full lineup of Clubs, in alphabetic order: 100 Thieves, All Gamers, Bilibili Gaming, Cloud9, Edward Gaming, EVOS, FaZe Clan, Fnatic, FURIA, G2 Esports, Gaimin Gladiators, Gen.G, Gentle Mates, HEROIC, JD Gaming, Karmine Corp., Movistar KOI, LEVIATAN, LOUD, MOUZ, NAVI, NIP.eStar, ONIC, POWR, REJECT, S8UL, Sentinels, T1, Team BDS, Team Falcons, Team Liquid, Team RRQ, Team Secret, Team Spirit, Team Vitality, Twisted Minds, Virtus.pro, Weibo Gaming, Wolves Esports, ZETA DIVISION.
The 2025 Club Programme applications in China were supported by Tencent E-Sports, who have facilitated the process for 20 Clubs that have applied. Six Clubs were selected, including All Gamers, Bilibili Gaming, Edward Gaming, JD Gaming, Weibo Gaming and Wolves Esports—China’s most dominant teams, engaging over 125 million Chinese fans through gaming, entertainment and lifestyle content. Additionally, eStar, as part of NIP, has also been added to the lineup, further serving the expansion of the Club Partner Programme in China and activating Chinese fans.
All Clubs were selected through a rigorous evaluation process that reviewed nearly 200 applications. This included assessing their competitive track record in the Club Championship in 2024, their potential across multiple games, social media presence, fan engagement and their strategic plans for activating their global esports audience. Eight Clubs received direct invitations based on their EWC 2024 Club Championship ranking, while the remaining spots were allocated through an open application process. Nineteen Clubs joined for the first time, and 21 returned from the inaugural year.
“Esports is evolving faster than ever, and the EWCF Club Partner Program is driving that evolution by giving Clubs the tools to grow, engage fans, and compete at the highest level. EWC 2024 was a defining moment for us—winning points in five games, two podium finishes, and securing a top-four finish at the Club Championship. The scale and energy of the event proved just how influential esports has become. We’re proud to be part of the program again, fueled by the enthusiasm of French fans who continue to support and inspire us as we look to elevate our game, win as many tournaments as possible, and carry Team Vitality’s colours high on the biggest stage in esports,” said Fabien “Neo” Devide, Chairman and co-founder of Team Vitality.
“As one of the fastest growing esports organizations in North America, we are delighted to join the EWCF Club Partner Program. Continuing the momentum of our success in 2024, including a major win in VALORANT and significant growth across our social channels reaching millions of fans in North America and beyond, the addition of VALORANT to the Esports World Cup is the perfect time for us to become an official partner and deliver new and exciting content to an even wider audience,” said Rob Moore, CEO of Sentinels.
“Since Day One, All Gamers has chased esports glory—pushing non-stop for over 20 years. With years of hard work from our teams, we’ve scored big wins in top games and trained legends in the scene. Competing at the 2024 EWC against the world’s best, that fire burns bright. Now joining EWCF’s Club Partner Program, here’s our hope: When fans worldwide see Chinese esports through AG, they won’t just recall epic comebacks, but our crew’s unstoppable spirit—cutting through challenges like a blade. That combination of grit and grace—that’s China’s gift to the global esports race,” said Le Kedeng, Chairman of All Gamers.
Membership in the EWCF Club Partner Programme is subject to annual renewal in line with the Programme’s requirements, reflecting the dynamic nature of the esports industry. A Club’s participation in the programme does not guarantee a spot at the Esports World Cup 2025. All Clubs are required to qualify through official qualification pathways to earn their spot in each game’s EWC tournament.
The post Esports World Cup Foundation Announces 40 Clubs Selected for its $20M Club Partner Programme appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News
TaDa Gaming Releases Lucky Jaguar 2
TaDa Gaming has released its latest slot Lucky Jaguar 2. This time, the Colourful Jaguar Wild is joined by a Gold Jaguar Wild to ramp up the wins with multiple multipliers, stunning graphics and a humorous soundtrack, alongside the original Lock & Respin bonus game feature.
Designed specifically for the LatAm market, where earlier release Fortune Gems had held the record breaking top spot, Lucky Jaguar hit 33%+ of Fortune Gem’s DAU figures within one month. Retention increased by 50%+; session length by nearly 30%; and increased rounds played up 20%, with figures still rising.
Based on this positive reception to the original release and localised for new markets, sequel Lucky Jaguar 2 will take players back to the Aztec Empire in this three rows, three reels and five fixed play lines slot; but this time for 10,000x max win and a Gold Jaguar Wild who can both trigger the bonus game with its Lock & Respin feature and deliver extra bonus multipliers to the win when he appears on Reel Two.
Laden with Aztec symbols from jewellery to artefacts, before each Lucky Jaguar 2 game starts one symbol is randomly chosen. When the bonus game triggers, only that selected symbol, the Gold or the Colourful Jaguar Wilds or empty positions will spin out. Each winning spin will lock the symbols into place and spin again until the grid is filled or there are no more winning combinations.
The Colourful Jaguar Wild can substitute for any symbol and add a multiplier to winning paylines ranging in value from 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 3x, 5x, 8x, 10x, 15x, 20x, 30x to a legendary 50x the base bet.
When multiple Jaguar Wilds appear, all the multiplied paylines are added together taking the win potential to mega levels. Plus, when all symbols on the reels match in a winning combination, a random multiplier bonus of 2x, 3x, 5x or 10x the win is awarded.
The Gold Jaguar Wild carries a random multiplier which can include 2x, 3x and 5x. In addition to triggering the Bonus Lock & Respin game, when he appears on a winning payline all wins, including Jaguar Wild Bonuses, will be multiplied for truly legendary payout potential.
For players who like to push their lucky chances, the Extra Bets feature will increase the number of Wilds appearing and double the chance of triggering the Bonus game, enhancing the win potential with a max bet of 300 and intensifying the excitement.
Sean Liu, Head of Product Management at TaDa Gaming, said: “Using our ‘Global Core Mechanics, Localised Content’ strategy ensured that Lucky Jaguar 2 builds on the success of the original slot whilst adding in generous extra multiplier bonuses in a mid-volatility game. The design team also had some fun giving the Jaguar a bigger personality and enhancing the soundtrack for more experiential gaming. We are confident this is going to be another hit release.”
The post TaDa Gaming Releases Lucky Jaguar 2 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
Swedish Government Proposes a New Ban on Gambling on Credit
The Swedish government has proposed a new expanded ban on gambling on credit.
By preventing gambling from being financed with credit, the government wants to reduce the risk of over-indebtedness and protect consumers from ending up in financial difficulties.
The government’s proposal means that licensees and gaming agents will not be allowed to allow or participate in the financing of gambling with credit. This means that the current credit ban will be expanded to include, among other things, that licensees and gaming agents will not be allowed to:
• Enable players to enter into credit agreements with other parties when purchasing games, for example by linking to credit providers in connection with online gaming.
• Accept gambling bets if they know that the player is financing the bet, or their gambling in general, with a credit.
• Accept credit card payments if it is immediately apparent at the time of purchase that the payment is a credit card payment. This should apply both online and in-store.
The new rules are proposed to come into force on April 1, 2026.
The post Swedish Government Proposes a New Ban on Gambling on Credit appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
From Cost Center to Growth Driver: Rethinking Geolocation in a Regulated World
In a fragmented and fast-evolving regulatory landscape, geolocation has become a critical pillar of compliance, fraud prevention, and operational strategy. But as new formats like sweepstakes, prediction markets, and DFS+ gain traction, and new global markets opening up, operators face increasing pressure to adopt location solutions that are not just accurate, but adaptive.
Ron Braunfeld, Chief Revenue Officer at Xpoint, shares his perspective on how operators can navigate this complex ecosystem, what trends are shaping demand, and how early client feedback has helped define a smarter approach to geo-compliance.
In a market crowded with both low-cost entrants and premium vendors, how should operators navigate the geolocation landscape to ensure they get the best solution for them?
Operators should look beyond sticker price and evaluate geolocation providers on overall value and risk mitigation. It’s easy to be tempted by bare-bones, bargain offerings that perform only basic location checks, but those can leave compliance gaps or blind spots. In contrast, premium solutions tend to bundle critical features like fraud detection, high uptime, and real-time support as standard features, turning geolocation from a mere checkbox into a comprehensive compliance tool.
Operators should select a partner that scales with their business. For example, a startup might start with a usage-based plan and expand as it grows, while a large multi-state operator should see volume-based discounts. In short, the best approach is to weigh long-term reliability and capability over rock-bottom cost, ensuring the geolocation service can prevent costly missteps and even unlock useful insights, not just verify a location.
Which verticals or regions have shown the biggest, unexpected appetite for precise location verification?
One surprising vertical has been daily fantasy sports (DFS). Initially, DFS platforms weren’t under the same strict state-by-state regulations as sportsbooks or online casinos, so many assumed they’d take a minimal compliance approach. Instead, as DFS grew, operators became highly proactive. Mature DFS companies began demanding the same level of precision and fraud resistance as regulated betting operators, recognizing that even a small number of out-of-state users slipping through could pose serious legal and reputational risks.
Another unexpectedly hungry segment is sweepstakes and skill-gaming platforms. These businesses occupy a gray area in terms of gambling law – sweepstakes-based casinos or prize games aren’t clearly ‘gambling’ in the traditional sense. With legal scrutiny mounting, states are already debating whether sweepstakes constitute gambling, proactive operators have implemented precise geolocation controls. Some have even asked providers for state-by-state geofencing to ensure they don’t inadvertently allow play from jurisdictions that might challenge their model. It’s essentially anticipating regulation. By acting as if they are regulated and rigorously geofencing where users can participate, they demonstrate a commitment to operating above board. It shows that across the board, from fantasy sports to sweepstakes games, the industry increasingly views precise location tech not just as a legal hurdle, but as a foundation for a trustworthy, scalable operation.
Which upcoming innovations or market trends do you expect will have the biggest impact on geo-compliance demand over the next two years?
Several forces are converging to reshape the future of geo-compliance. Geolocation is becoming deeply integrated into the broader security and personalization stack. The most forward-thinking operators are starting to link location intelligence with fraud prevention, responsible gaming, and even targeted marketing. In the next two years, the biggest differentiators won’t just be accuracy or uptime, they will be the ability to power multiple use cases from a single, trusted location platform.
Meanwhile, global market expansion is driving both scale and complexity. Jurisdictions such as Brazil and the UAE are rolling out or tightening their regulatory frameworks, often requiring location validation as a condition of licensure. This will push operators to adopt flexible, modular compliance infrastructure that can be customized market by market, as more areas continue to regulate.
How does early adopter feedback shape your commercial and product roadmap, and what’s a key lesson you’ve learned from client insights?
Client feedback is often the earliest signal of where the market is heading. Operators on the front lines, especially those pioneering new betting formats or entering emerging jurisdictions, tend to uncover challenges that aren’t yet on most providers’ radar. Listening to those early adopters can reveal opportunities to build products that solve real pain points, not just theoretical ones.
Another recurring theme is the need for transparency and flexibility in partnerships. Leading operators now expect their compliance agreements to function as living, breathing documents, regularly updated to mirror regulatory shifts, market developments, and evolving risk profiles. Providers that explain their data sources clearly, pivot swiftly when rules change, and scale support in lockstep with client growth earn lasting trust. This feedback loop, where operators push boundaries and providers refine solutions, has emerged as a core driver of innovation in geolocation. Partnerships are no longer static contracts, they’re collaborative roadmaps for confident, sustainable expansion.
The post From Cost Center to Growth Driver: Rethinking Geolocation in a Regulated World appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
-
Latest News2 months ago
SARA TENDULKAR JOINS JETSYNTHESYS’ GLOBAL E-CRICKET PREMIER LEAGUE AS MUMBAI FRANCHISE OWNER FOR SEASON 2
-
Latest News2 months ago
Exclusive Q&A With Bar Konson, Chief Business Development Officer at NuxGame
-
Latest News2 months ago
Week 17/2025 slot games releases
-
Latest News2 months ago
Fortuna Partners with 2025 UEFA Under-21 EURO
-
Latest News2 months ago
Esports World Cup Foundation Confirms Full Game Lineup, Schedule, and Club Championship Rules for EWC 2025
-
Latest News1 month ago
ELA Games Receives Key Nomination at EGR Marketing & Innovation Awards
-
Latest News2 months ago
DreamPlay consolidates its status as a global player in the iGaming industry and opens an office and campus in Cyprus
-
Latest News2 months ago
ACR POKER’S NEXT HIGH STAKES ADVENTURE TAKES PLAYERS TO MONTENEGRO FOR PRESTIGIOUS SUPER HIGH ROLLER SERIES
You must be logged in to post a comment Login