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DreamHack and ESL One: Two Giant Gaming Events. One City. Nothing Like It.
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DreamHack Birmingham debuts; ESL One Birmingham returns
DreamHack and ESL One, two of the world’s biggest events in gaming and esports, will be coming to Birmingham, UK, in March 2026. DreamHack Birmingham will be the first ever festival held on UK soil in its 20+ year history, bringing together all gaming communities to celebrate games, esports and internet pop culture. Featuring one of the most prestigious esports tournaments, ESL One, returns to the UK for its fourth iteration, with a $1M prize pool, showcasing 16 of the world’s best Dota 2 teams.
“Esports has exploded into one of the fastest-growing parts of our economy. Our arenas are buzzing with global fans and players for events like DreamHack and ESL One,” said Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands. “For us it’s much more than entertainment. Our colleges and universities are full of young talent learning the skills to succeed in this multi-billion-pound industry. And with world-class studios already here, and backing from gaming’s biggest names, we’re making the West Midlands the UK’s number one place to create, watch and play esports.”
“The UK has one of the world’s most passionate gaming communities, yet it’s still underserved when it comes to festivals that unite every part of gaming culture.” said Shahin Zarrabi, VP Festivals at ESL FACEIT Group. “That’s why we’re bringing DreamHack to Birmingham — a city with a proven track record and the perfect stage for our UK debut. We’re here for the long term: to invest, grow, and build something even bigger together with the community.”
“Returning to Birmingham with ESL One is a huge moment for us and the Dota 2 community,” said Álvaro Sánchez Velasco, Product Manager Dota 2 at ESL FACEIT Group. “This year is even more special as we join forces with DreamHack to create a truly unique festival atmosphere. We can’t wait to bring the best of Dota 2 esports to a city that has shown us so much passion over the years we’ve been here.”
The UK has rapidly established itself as one of Europe’s fastest-growing esports markets, with revenues set to hit $250.7 million in 2025 (Statista, 2025) and user numbers projected to reach nearly 24 million by 2029 (Statisa, 2025). Home to nearly 40 million gamers nationwide (Statista, 2024), esports is now both a cultural and economic force in the UK — and DreamHack festivals, which reach over 200,000 visitors globally and tens of millions online, are perfectly positioned to bring this vibrant community together on one stage.
NEC Group hosts DreamHack and ESL One Birmingham 2026
The NEC Birmingham and bp pulse LIVE offer two of the UK’s largest and most versatile event venues, operated by the NEC Group. Conveniently located just minutes from Birmingham Airport, the venues welcome seven million visitors each year to hundreds of live events and trade shows.
“We’re thrilled to welcome ESL One Birmingham back to the NEC and we’re equally excited to host DreamHack for the very first time,” said Ian Taylor, Managing Director of the NEC. “We’re perfectly located for bringing gaming communities together from across the globe, and we can’t wait to host one of the biggest gaming events in the calendar!”
Securing Birmingham as the host city for both DreamHack and ESL One is a huge milestone,” said Bobby Hare, Director Host City Partnerships at ESL FACEIT Group. “Over the past 12 months, the West Midlands Growth Company and the NEC Group have been incredibly supportive partners, and we’re excited to be back in Birmingham. The city’s vibrant gaming community and our shared vision for long-term growth make it the perfect home to deliver unforgettable experiences for UK fans.
DreamHack Birmingham
- Dates: March 27 – 29, 2026
- Location: National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham, UK
- DreamHack is the world’s leading gaming lifestyle festival bringing together all gaming communities to celebrate games and internet pop culture.
- Across three days, DreamHack Birmingham will invite fans to explore esports tournaments, cosplay, live music, creators, tabletop games, and so much more, all in one vibrant, community-driven space.
- The iconic festival comes to the UK following celebrated stints across the globe, including in Europe, North America and Asia.
ESL One Birmingham
- Dates: March 22 – 29, 2026.
- Location: bp pulse LIVE in Birmingham, UK.
- ESL One is one of the biggest and renowned Dota 2 tournament series that brings together the best teams and players from around the world.
- 16 teams will compete in a round robin format, with 8-team double-elimination Playoffs.
- The final three days of the competition will take place in front of a live audience.
- Last year’s ESL One Birmingham saw a peak viewership of over 327,000. Over 18,000 fans from across the world attended the bp pulse LIVE on the final three days of the tournament, witnessing Team Falcons taking home the trophy.
For additional information, please check out the DreamHack and ESL One Birmingham Press Kit.
Tickets can be purchased starting September 23 at 15:00 BST on dreamhack.com/birmingham and esl-one.com/birmingham.
DreamHack 3-day tickets start at £39.00 during the first two weeks and will be priced from £59.00 thereafter. ESL One guaranteed seating starts at £89.00 for all three days, with add-ons also available.
All DreamHack ticket holders receive full access to all parts of the DreamHack festival experience, including ESL One, though entry to bp pulse LIVE is limited by capacity. Purchasing an ESL One ticket guarantees your seat in the bp pulse LIVE and also grants you full access to DreamHack.
The post DreamHack and ESL One: Two Giant Gaming Events. One City. Nothing Like It. appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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FairPlay Sports Media and FOX Sports Digital Launch New Betting Hub
FairPlay’s betting technology and AI-powered predictive content drive deeper fan engagement and deliver media opportunities and revenue
FOX Sports Digital and FairPlay Sports Media, the fan-focused and AI-powered global sports media network, have announced a strategic betting tech, affiliate and sports media agreement.
Under the multi-year agreement, FairPlay will serve as the exclusive sports betting affiliate technology provider of FOX Sports Digital, deploying its market-leading odds components, advanced AI-powered predictive data and analytics, and cutting-edge technology solutions on FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports mobile application.
The new relationship powers the newly released FOX Sports Betting Hub which integrates FairPlay’s innovative sports betting-related content enhanced with bespoke, value-added experiences derived from FairPlay’s deep relationships with global sportsbook operators.
“FOX Sports is one of the largest sports rights holders in the world, with incredible access to live games and global events,” said Stuart Simms, Group CEO of FairPlay Sports Media. “FairPlay is excited to work with the FOX Sports Digital team, and we’re honored to serve their millions of users with more engaging, insightful sports media experiences that have proven to drive loyalty, engagement and deliver on brand differentiation.”
FairPlay’s advanced AI technology and robust odds components are already delivering real-time, data-driven insights to help FOX Sports fans and bettors, while monetization frameworks being deployed create revenue opportunities for operators, sportsbooks and digital media buyers.
The agreement enhances and elevates fan engagement by bringing FairPlay’s betting information technology and AI-powered tools to FOX Sports’ digital platforms. FairPlay’s approach enables FOX Sports digital users and fans to access personalized, data-driven betting analytics that deepen their connection and engagement with sports content. As the sports media and betting landscapes continue to evolve, the FOX Sports and FairPlay agreement delivers pioneering, scalable digital experiences for fans and operators alike.
The post FairPlay Sports Media and FOX Sports Digital Launch New Betting Hub appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
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Betfred Launches Checkd Dev’s Automated Betting System to Strengthen Football Betting Offering
Checkd Dev, part of the award-winning Checkd Group and a leading iGaming technology provider, has signed a multi-year agreement to supply its Automated Betting System (ABS) to UK bookmaker Betfred, introducing new levels of efficiency and engagement to pre-match football accumulator betting.
Through the partnership, Betfred has launched a suite of pre-configured, one-click accumulator bets, powered by Checkd Dev’s ABS technology and seamlessly integrated with Betfred’s proprietary pricing.
The solution enhances the customer betting journey while equipping Betfred’s trading team with a robust backend platform to streamline bet creation, management, and settlement. Customers benefit from football bets that are dynamically assigned probabilities based on historic form, providing greater insight and confidence in their selections.
The launch of ABS reinforces Betfred’s reputation as an industry innovator, offering customers smarter, faster, and more engaging betting experiences.
Checkd Dev has refined its ABS user interface through deployments with multiple tier-one operators. Betfred has further strengthened the proposition by integrating its competitive Acca Flex bonus offer, available from launch. Customers can access additional bonuses if their bet wins, while also benefiting from a money-back guarantee if a single leg loses.
Since its introduction two years ago, Checkd Dev’s ABS has evolved from a statistics-driven tool to increase operator conversion rates into a comprehensive system designed to meet the growing demand for automated, pre-configured betting products, powered by the company’s proprietary BRUNO platform.
This agreement extends Checkd Dev’s recent growth trajectory, following high-profile partnerships with William Hill on a fully automated, stats-powered Bet Builder, and a three-year deal with OpenBet to launch a new Trending BetBuilder to market.
Andrew Grimshaw, Commercial Director at Checkd Dev, commented: “We are delighted to be working with fellow Mancunians Betfred on our Trending Bets product. More and more major bookmakers are recognising the tangible value of our automated betting solutions, and it is especially gratifying to collaborate with a local partner on this launch.”
Mark Hartley, Head of Product at Betfred, added: “Since moving onto our propriety platform, we’ve been able to bring new ideas to market much faster. This partnership with Checkd Dev is a great example, helping us solve a simple problem for football fans: researching and building an accumulator can sometimes feel like hard work!
“With one-click, data-driven selections we’ve made the process quicker and easier, while still giving customers the choice and depth they want. Accas are already one of our most compelling propositions, thanks to our popular promotion Acca Flex, and this launch makes them even more engaging. We’re also looking forward to exploring further opportunities to work with Checkd Dev in the future.”
The post Betfred Launches Checkd Dev’s Automated Betting System to Strengthen Football Betting Offering appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
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Slotland’s Crown Jewel, Gods of Egypt, Resurrects with Enhanced Features
Legendary Title Reborn for a New Generation of Fortune Seekers with Freebies and Bonuses until December 28th
Slotland Entertainment has ceremoniously relaunched its legendary title, Gods of Egypt, across its casinos Slotland, Winaday and now including CryptoSlots and CryptoWins. This revered 5×4, 30-payline slot invites players into a grand temple of mythic wealth.
Wager $1.50 to $30 to awaken divine features: Ra’s Sticky Expanding Wilds, Bastet’s gem-triggered Free Spins, and a Pick Me Bonus with layered treasures. For those betting $15 or more, five Pharaoh symbols unlock the progressive jackpot.
“Gods of Egypt has always been a crown jewel in our collection,” said Michael Hilary, Manager at Slotland. “This relaunch across our entire empire allows a new generation of players to experience its timeless magic and seek its legendary rewards.”
Framed by the regal visages of Anubis and a jeweled queen, the game creates a ceremonial atmosphere of arcade spectacle. It is a call to modern seekers: enter and claim your ancient riches.
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The post Slotland’s Crown Jewel, Gods of Egypt, Resurrects with Enhanced Features appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
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